With the rebirth of Old Town Pasadena came developers who saw big money-making opportunities in building new condos and lofts or condo conversions. Applause here for the wise City Fathers of Pasadena! They developed a conservative city development plan that carefully delineated where the new condos could logically go: in the city core where multi-family housing already existed. Size and height restrictions were also established -- and all of this continues to be argued about to this day. Neighborhoods of single family homes were preserved and protected.
The Metro Gold Line added further impetus to the growth of condominiums in Pasadena. Government policy across the entire regional Metro system encourages multi-family housing at or near the stations in order to alleviate freeway traffic. Instead of a half-hour or more drive to downtown L.A. on the 110 Freeway during rush hour, the Gold Line will get you there in about 15 carefree minutes. Interesting scenery along the way, too: quaint South Pasadena gives way to hip Highland Park then colorful Chinatown before the train pulls into the historic Union Station.
Farther away, in the neighborhood of Big Box stores out on Foothill Blvd. near the eastern edge of Pasadena, condos are also rising. With the planned extension of the Metro Gold Line eastward more development can be anticipated.
A few words about Cottage Courts. When Pasadena was a resort destination city over a century ago, many charming, small cottages were built all over the city -- five to nine on a lot around a central courtyard. They were seasonal rentals for people who did not want to stay in the big resort hotels. The city has decided that the remaining cottages cannot be torn down to put up multi-family buildings. But owners have been given permission, in some cases, to turn the cottages into individual commercial office units and residential condos. Needless to say, these cottages are very desirable. |
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