Heritage Square South Construction Starts, Will Provide Permanent Supportive Housing for Seniors

A Monday groundbreaking marked the start of construction for the Heritage Square South development in Pasadena The 70-unit senior supportive housing complex is expected to reach completion by September 2023.  

Located at 710 North Fair Oaks Avenue in Pasadena, California, the $28 million, the 70,000-square-foot project will feature three, three-story buildings with 69 one-bedroom units and one two-bedroom unit. The three buildings are to be interconnected with walking bridges. 

The project was developed by BRIDGE, a nationally recognized nonprofit developer, owner and manager of affordable housing.

Heritage Square South will provide new permanent supportive housing apartments for extremely low-income seniors who have experienced homelessness. Planned property amenities include a leasing office, onsite manager, 24-hour security, laundry rooms, an outdoor courtyard and a community room. Intensive case management services will be provided by Union Station Homeless Services. The property is expected to be complete in November 2023.

“I want to thank BRIDGE Housing for being a great partner with the City of Pasadena,” said John J. Kennedy, Councilmember, District 3. “The City Council has tremendous confidence that this project will be a success based on BRIDGE’s performance with Heritage Square Senior Apartments North. We all look forward to the opening of this project and its impact on the lives of 69 of our formerly homeless seniors.”

“We’re proud to collaborate on developments like Heritage Square South that help people thrive and deliver tangible solutions to the housing and homelessness crisis,” said Ken Lombard, President and CEO of BRIDGE Housing. “Furthermore, we’re continuing our commitment to the city’s robust local benefits plan.” For Heritage Square, BRIDGE hired 20% of the construction workforce from Pasadena, procured 81% of construction supplies from companies located in Pasadena, and awarded 39% of subcontracting opportunities to local companies,”

Heritage Square South is immediately adjacent to Heritage Square, which provides 70 affordable apartment homes for seniors with low incomes. Completed in 2016, Heritage Square is a successful example of a partnership between the City of Pasadena and BRIDGE.

“Wells Fargo is proud to be the lead construction lender and LIHTC investor for this project, allowing us to expand our efforts to help increase access to affordable housing in our region,” said Gregg Sherkin, SVP, Senior Manager Social Impact, Southern California. “It’s inspiring to see such an important project coming to life and know that when it’s completed, some 70 senior citizens will have safe, secure and supportive housing, allowing them to benefit from all that this wonderful community has to offer.”

Financial partners for Heritage Square South include the City of Pasadena; Wells Fargo Bank NA; JLL Real Estate Capital, LLC; and the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee. The architect for Heritage Square South is KTGY Architects and the general contractor is RD Olson.

“R.D. Olson’s is thrilled to work on our second project with owner, BRIDGE Housing, to bring this affordable senior housing to life,” said Bill Wilhelm, president, R.D. Olson. “BRIDGE

 Housing is a prominent developer in this market segment, and it is an honor to work with a company with such high standards of integrity, a stellar reputation and a long-standing track record of successful developments.” 

Speakers at the groundbreaking included Mayor Victor Gordo, Councilmember Kennedy, District 3, City of Pasadena; Assemblymember Chris Holden, 41st District, California State Assembly; Representative Judy Chu, 27th Congressional District, U.S. House of Representatives; Supervisor Kathryn Barger, 5th District, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors; Dominick Correy, Office of California Senator Anthony J. Portantino; Bill Huang, Housing Director, City of Pasadena; Ken Lombard, President & CEO, BRIDGE Housing; Anne Miskey, CEO, Union Station Homeless Services; and Gregg Sherkin, SVP, Senior Manager, Social Impact and Sustainability, Wells Fargo.

For more information about BRIDGE, visit www.bridgehousing.com.