Locals Split on South Arroyo Parkway Project

In correspondence to the Design Commission, local residents appeared to be split on the proposed development of a medical office building and an assisted living facility on South Arroyo Parkway.

The two structures would include a new 154,000 square foot medical office building and a 184,376 square foot assisted living building with 92 independent living units near the Whole Foods Market site.

“I have reviewed the plans and believe this medical and assisted living project is long overdue,” wrote Darrell Done, sales manager at Coldwell Banker.

“These are complementary uses, tied together with a very attractive courtyard between the historic buildings. This project will provide an ideal environment for people in the assisted living building to get together with family and friends, and to remain in the community they love. The medical/research building achieves the right level of prominence for this location, while still fitting in,” Done wrote.

   

The project will also involve the demolition of six existing buildings and the preservation of three existing historic buildings, before the new medical office and assisted-living buildings are constructed. 

In addition, up to 23 non-protected trees on the site will be removed, as well as 17 street trees along the project site’s street frontages. Two street trees are proposed to be removed, which will require a public tree removal permit through the Department of Public Works’ Urban Forestry Division.”

“It strikes me as an economic ‘opportunity’ more than a medical or retirement facility need,” said Bob Aronoff. “Its location is a heavily trafficked area already. The amount of traffic on South Arroyo Parkway, the constant running and the rumbling of Gold Line trains would seem to suggest this isn’t a conducive place for a retirement home complex.”

The Madison Heights Neighborhood Association expressed disappointment that the group did not have a chance to prepare comments on the development before Tuesday’s Design Commission meeting. 

“The loss of 23 trees alone is a considerable issue, but traffic, overdevelopment, walkability and the lack of community comment are also critical factors. We hope the city and commission will find a way for the community to respond. Pasadena is a great city and our residents should be heard to help keep it that way,” the association wrote.

It was not immediately known why the group could not comment. 

The project site from 465 to 577 S. Arroyo Parkway consists of five contiguous lots totaling about 3.3 acres along the west side of the street, between Bellevue Drive and East California Boulevard. It is currently developed with nine buildings, surface and subterranean parking, and landscaping. 

The project is currently in the preliminary consultation phase of the city’s approval process. 

A report by the Department of Planning and Community Development shows many of the structures along South Arroyo Parkway south of the project site are one-story commercial buildings, although there’s a five-story mixed-use building across the street, from 491 to 495 S. Arroyo Parkway. Buildings at the north end of the project site and the Whole Foods building and others north of the site are larger-scaled developments of up to four stories in height. 

“The project will be attractive and re-energize an area that has fallen to neglect in recent years. Several aspects of the project will be significant and positive additions to Pasadena,” said Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Paul Little. 

Steve Mulheim, executive director of the Old Pasadena Management District, has also expressed support for the project. 

Metro L Line (formerly Gold Line) tracks adjoin the west side of the site. The Del Mar Station is about 1,600 feet north of the northernmost point of new construction on the site, and the Fillmore Station is about 1,300 feet from the site’s southeast corner. 

Nearby designated historic resources include the Home Laundry at 432 S. Arroyo Parkway to the northeast, built in 1923 by Marston, Van Pelt and Maybury; Bryan Court at 427 S. Marengo Ave. to the northeast, built in 1916 by D.M. Renton; the Evanston Inn at 385 S. Marengo Ave. to the northeast, built in 1887; the South Marengo Historic District to the east, the Marengo-Pico Landmark District to the southeast, Royal Laundry at 443 S. Raymond Ave. to the west. built in 1927; and the Kaufmann and Drive-up Building built in 1939 by George Whyte.