Public Can Join Pasadena’s Reconnecting Communities 710 Advisory Group Tour of the “710 Stub” Tonight

The public can join the City advisory group working to plan the future of the 710 freeway Stub on a tour of the nearly 50-acre site tonight.

The Reconnecting Communities 710 Advisory Group’s mission is to provide insight and recommendations to the City Council about the site’s prospective transformation.

This segment of land has a history tied to it. In 1964, California seized the half-mile area through eminent domain, including hundreds of residences in southwestern Pasadena, South Pasadena, and the El Sereno neighborhood of Los Angeles. The intention was to connect the Long Beach 710 and Foothill 210 freeways, though the project never came to fruition. 

In a historic move, Caltrans handed control of the 710 stub back to Pasadena in June 2022, marking a pivotal turn in Pasadena’s efforts to rejuvenate what was previously a bustling part of the city. As part of the decision, Pasadena also received a $5 million one-off payment.

Now, the responsibility lies with the 16-member advisory group to curate a visionary blueprint for this area’s redevelopment. The group has so far convened only one time, in May.

The tour is expected to deepen their understanding of the site.

The tour will embark from City Hall, located at 100 N. Garfield Ave., after their 6 p.m. meeting, estimated to last roughly two hours. Those wishing to participate can board a tour bus, although seats are limited and require a waiver signature. Alternatively, attendees can independently meet the group at specific checkpoints.

The first stop on the tour is slated for 6:40 p.m. at Bellefontaine Street and St. John Avenue, at the site’s southern end, where near-term projects will be the topic of conversation. Subsequent stops include a 7:10 p.m. halt at Del Mar Boulevard and S. Pasadena Avenue for discussions about the drainage system, and a 7:40 p.m. pause at Holly Street and S. Pasadena Ave. to talk about freeway ramp modifications.

Limited seating will be available on the bus. A signed waiver will be required before entrance on the bus is permitted. Members of the public are not required to ride the bus to participate in the tour.