Housing and homeless activists praise The Ratkovich Company’s affordable housing component for Civic Center projects
In the latest chapter of Pasadena’s Civic Center YWCA Building saga, the City Council has approved further study on five proposed projects for the historic Julia Morgan-designed building in Centennial Plaza.
One project is already receiving kudos and raising the hopes of local affordable housing activists.
The five new projects were culled from a list of ten projects received following a Request for Proposals issued by the City in June for the YWCA property and a nearby plot of land.
The Council approved a staff recommendation to study projects by Carpenter & Company, Inc; Continental Assets Management; Edgewood Realty Partners, LLC; HRI Properties, LLC; and The Ratkovich Company/National Community Renaissance.
According to the City staff report, a specific use was not identified as part of the outreach; instead City staff sought proposals from groups experienced in historic renovation.
While each of the projects featured a hotel as some element of their plans, the The Ratkovich Company / National Community Renaissance project would prominently feature 94 units for low income families earning up to 60% of the area median income, with 46 units for permanent supportive housing for households who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.
The Ratkovich/Community Renaissance project proposes two alternatives for the YWCA site—a historic rehabilitation of the YWCA Building for creative office with surface parking; or a historic rehabilitation of the YWCA Building and the construction of a new 59,000 sq. ft. office building.
The other option is the rehabilitation of the YWCA Building and construction of a new 142-room hotel on-site with an 80 space subterranean garage.
The option for the Water and Power site proposes the same residential unit and income mix, but introduces up to 15,000 sq. ft. of leasable office space for use by a single governmental department tenant on a semi-subterranean level of the building with an 87-space, two-level subterranean garage.
Each of the developments would have a 45-foot setback from Garfield Avenue and a height limit of 60 feet.
Councilmember Victor Gordo set the stage for the discussion asking the Council, “Which project is true to the Civic Center’s vision? Which will activate the Civic Center? And where is the deference to City Hall?”
“All of these issues are extremely important,” responded City Manager Steve Mermell, who noted that the City may “mix and match” various elements of the proposals.
The Ratkovich/Community Renaissance project was the only project commented on by members of the community in attendance.
United Way West San Gabriel Valley field representative Teresa Eilers told the Council during public comment to select the Ratkovitch project and said, “Create more affordable housing in Civic Center. Send a brave message to other cities.”
A number of housing and homeless activists also spoke on behalf of the Ratkovich/Renaissance project, including representatives from Union Station Homeless Services, and All Saints Church.
“Please take advantage of this historic opportunity,” said All Saints Church’s Julianna Serrano, while longtime housing activist Anthony Manousos said, “This is a historic moment for our city. This is a win-win.”
Manousos also noted the planned 94 low-income apartments, saying, “These are families,” he said. “These are children who will go to Pasadena schools.”
Longtime preservationist Ann Scheid pointed out to the Council that both the YWCA and YMCA buildings were both originally built as “affordable housing.”
The Council’s approval of the City staff recommendation means that each of the five projects will now be examined more closely, though Councilmember John Kennedy emphasized the need for more public meetings and more “transparency” in any decision-making.
But Councilmember Steve Madison, who noted that the Civic Center project has gone on for more than seven years, said, “We don’t need a more bloated process. We need to pick a great project, move it forward, and get our $5 to $10 million back [that we paid for it].”
The site has been the subject of numerous development ideas since the City purchased it in 2012 for $8.3 million to preserve and restore it.
Mayor Terry Tornek responded that he agreed with Madison, but said the City needs to take a “reasonable approach” to the final selection
Tornek also added, “Let’s get on with it.”
Following the unanimous vote, City staff will report back to the Council, on a date to be determined, with a closer look at the five selections, in terms of feasibility and further recommendations.