Pasadena’s ‘Affordable Micro-Units’ Apartment Complex Underway, To Be Ready By June

Billed as the city’s first affordable micro-unit apartment complex, the Pasadena Studios Project just south of the 210 Freeway at 280 N. Oakland Avenue, a six-story building that will feature 180 micro-units, is rapidly taking shape.

Project developers Community Builders Group (CBG) and Bridge Financial Advisors (BFA) said that 100 percent of the units are affordable and they are targeting households earning between 30 and 60 percent of the area median income as potential renters.

The project, located in close proximity to the mass transit, business hubs, shopping, and multiple dining choices, is expected to be completed in June 2023. 

Micro-units are generally small studio apartments typically less than 350 square feet, with a fully functioning and accessibility compliant kitchen and bathroom.

A typical micro-unit at Pasadena Studios Project will measure 220 square feet, according to the project’s developers. Some units would be larger in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act.

Design 

Designed by Natoma Architects, amenities at the contemporary podium-type building will include rooftop decks, a fitness center, and a recreation room, according to the project developers. Each unit will also have its own balcony.

“This is a very important project to us from a vision perspective of adding a new element to the housing market,” said Christian Hart, partner at CBG, a Pasadena-headquartered developer which has been in operation for over 20 years. 

“You couldn’t find a more logical site for folks to be able to walk to work and take advantage of all the cultural amenities that Pasadena has to offer because this is a fantastic city to live in and work in,” said Hart, further adding that the project’s location offers a view of both the mountains and the city.

Hart said Natoma Architects was chosen for the project because it has a vision of providing “micro-unit housing with a sense of adhering to the qualities and historic values that Pasadena architecture brings to the table.” 

“They actually took elements of craftsman style housing and other components of what has made Pasadena architecture famous across the globe and then brought the more modern approach to it,” said Hart.

For the Pasadena Studios Project, Jim Osterling, principal at BFA said he insisted that there should be an exterior balcony at every unit to make the livable area larger.

“That creates design challenges when you have that many exterior balconies. And one of the things that Natoma did that was brilliant was come up with a design that really looks elegant, even with providing an exterior balcony for each unit,” said Osterling.

Affordability 

According to Hart, aside from bringing a unique housing element to the masses, part of the developers’ vision is to provide affordable housing to residents of Pasadena.

Hart said the late councilmember John Kennedy is one of the proponents of the project, and it was part of his vision to enhance the project with affordable units and to create something that would last for the next 50 years.

Despite being 100 percent affordable, Hart and Osterling said that they made sure that the affordable aspect of the project did not reduce the quality of the materials used for the building. 

“Good design that’s also cost effective requires a great deal of thought and effort. And the development team has worked very, very closely with the design team throughout the design process, and even on an ongoing basis out in the field, in the construction process, to keep that high level of amenity and high quality of design, but do it in a cost effective way,” Osterling remarked. 

Osterling said some affordable units being developed  in Los Angeles County cost $700,000-$1.2 million per unit to construct. 

But, the cost of construction per unit at Pasadena Studios Project is coming in around $250,000, Osterling confirmed. 

“Even though the project is a hundred percent affordable, we did not require any loans or subsidies from the city of Pasadena,” added Osterling.

Osterling believes micro-units are part of an overall strategy needed to to increase the supply of affordable housing in the city.

“The micro-unit alone is not a silver bullet that will solve all of those problems, but it will meet the need for affordable housing for single households that are interested in downsizing and simplifying their life and being able to live within walking distance or a short bike ride or public transit commute to where they work,” said Osterling.

“I really look forward to the completion of the project because I think that will set a new standard for what affordability can achieve here,” said Hart.

For more information about the project: https://pasadena-studios.com/