Residents are invited to attend DPNA’s February meeting & potluck.
Here’s a recap of January’s meeting:
Cordova Street Enhancements
The City’s Cordova traffic calming project is slowly going forward, with much to be pleased about. One concern noted is that it now appears that the scope of the project goes no further west than Marengo, meaning that it lacks a connection to the Del Mar Gold Line Station.
General consensus at the DPNA meeting was that well-planned and effective pedestrian related projects are critical to the quality of life in the Downtown District.
Goals and objectives of the Cordova Street Enhancements:
- Reduce pedestrian crossing distance and time in the street.
- Improve safety of non-motorized users by adding east and westbound bike lanes.
- Enhance Cordova Street’s character by incorporating sustainable water quality features.
- Provide critical pedestrian accessible improvements for the corridor by upgrading curb ramps to meet current ADA requirements.
- The project will maintain or reduce vehicular speeds.
- Provide connection to Del Mar Metro Gold Line station, businesses and homes in the South Lake District of Pasadena, as well Pasadena City College and California Institute of Technology.
Whispering Waters Historic Designation
This HOA on Cordova has successfully attained designation as an historic site. This Mid-Century Modern condominium complex got its name from the reflecting pools that once surrounded the building and functioned as the central cooling system (similar to the Water & Power building in DTLA and the fountain at the historic PWP fountain on Fair Oaks).
Fuller Seminary’s Future.
No information was available regarding plans to redevelop the 26 properties the Fuller Seminary has on its campus and scattered about the Downtown District, other than a bid from a single purchaser has been received and accepted as of October 26.
The YWCA and Civic Center
A lawsuit filed by the Civic Center Coalition (not sponsored by DPNA) against the City’s intentions to redevelop the long-shuttered YWCA building and all of the adjacent land, including the civic garden along Garfield facing City Hall, is still pending. No new information has come to light from the City regarding the issue since staff presented to Council the Civic Center Task Force report in July 2018. At that meeting, council rejected staff recommendation to submit another request for proposal to developers and directed staff to further review the Civic Center Task Force report and recommendations.
Crown City Medical Building
This building is proposed for the southwest corner of Colorado and Madison. In July 2018 DPNA filed an appeal of the June 2018 Design Commission approval and continues to be concerned about several aspects of the development, chief of which is inconsistency with the Playhouse District Concept Plan for Streetscapes, Alleys, and Walkways that would create a covered surface parking lot on space adjacent to Converse Alley, as well as with the general plan for pedestrian circulation in the District. The appeal hearing has repeatedly been re-scheduled since the developer has indicated it may be revising its plans, and is now scheduled for March 25th.
Digital Gallery at Art Center
A representative from the Art Center reported that the school is working with the Planning Commission on signage regulations prior to further design work on its “Digital Gallery” on the Center’s facility at Arroyo Parkway and Glenarm. The Art Center will proceed very cautiously on recommending how the City should amend its sign ordinance in order to avoid an unsightly proliferation of digital advertising. Because the Art Center is located outside the Central District, the group consensus was not to add this issue to the list of priorities for DPNA involvement.
Bring your own favorite dish if you like.
Location: Pasadena Presbyterian Church, Gamble Lounge.
