Preliminary Consultation on Playhouse 7 Facade Remodel Scheduled for Design Commission

The Design Commission will hear a preliminary consultation on a remodeling of the facade of the building housing the Laemmle Playhouse 7 Theater at 673 E. Colorado Blvd.

“The exterior remodel is in conjunction with a proposed interior remodel to convert the building into a multi-tenant space for restaurants, office, retail and other services uses,” according to a staff report.

Earlier this year, Laemmle Theatres sold its Pasadena location to GD Realty Group of Los Angeles, an owner and developer of urban commercial real estate in prime Southern California locations. The sale also included a leaseback that will allow the theater to continue operating.

“The proposed façade remodel includes the demolition of a portion of the building envelope at the easterly side of the site to create a ground floor courtyard, which would connect with the existing pedestrian paseo on the adjacent property to the east,” according to a staff report. 

“The courtyard would be enclosed on three sides, with storefront entrances at the ground floor directly facing the new courtyard. The courtyard itself would be programmed with a central fountain and seating,” the report states.

“A roof deck patio (second floor) and trellis are also proposed at the easterly side overlooking the paseo and the new courtyard. In addition to the new proposed courtyard and roof deck, other proposed changes include new traditionally composed ground floor storefronts,” according to the report.

The theater reopened on April 9. It was not immediately known if the work will interrupt business. 

GD Realty Group is currently building a residential development near the theater building. It broke ground in July on a mixed-use project at the northwest corner of Union Street and El Molino Avenue (one block north of Colorado Boulevard), at 635 E. Union St. in the Playhouse District. 

The building will have 40 units comprising mostly two-bedroom and townhouse units with 3,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and underground parking. The development is scheduled to be completed in the fall.

Representatives from the group did not respond to an email from Pasadena Now. 

The meeting begins at 430p.m. on Thursday and can be viewed at: : https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89655289985