Community Open House (File Photo – City of Pasadena)
The City of Pasadena invites residents to the first SR-710 Reconnecting Pasadena project community open house, which will take place on Saturday, June 22, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Victory Park Recreation Center, 2575 Paloma Street, Pasadena, CA 91107.
By News Desk
The open house will include an interactive model-building workshop and display boards to better understand the community’s needs and desires as the City begins the project’s first phase of the Master Plan.
The workshop is a unique opportunity to participate in and guide the transformation of the stub from improved transportation infrastructure and pedestrian-friendly amenities to green spaces, cultural attractions, economic opportunities, and more. The plan will re-imagine the SR-710 stub and create a more inclusive and sustainable environment. Spanning approximately 60 acres from Union Street (North), Columbia Street (South), St. John Avenue (West) and Pasadena Avenue (East), the stub was once home to over 4,000 displaced residents from demolishing approximately 1,500 homes. The majority of these residences belonged to low-income and minority community members.
The community-based design process will engage with local residents and key community groups to engage a wide range of communities, including hard-to-reach populations, and active communication in the planning process. This month, community open houses, workshops, events, surveys, and digital outreach will commence, along with other opportunities for community-based organizations to partner in the outreach process.
In 18 months, the draft master plan will propose designs that can be implemented in phases, maximizing opportunities for pedestrian connectivity, land use options, recreational uses, climate-resilient infrastructure, and sustainability.
As part of this process, the Plan will develop a restorative justice framework to acknowledge past harms through a collaborative approach. A restorative justice framework or policy will help lead the project through an analysis phase to understand the existing conditions and what’s feasible before developing a set of options and alternatives based on community input.
The City has selected a team of planners, outreach specialists, architects, landscape architects, and engineers led by Perkins Eastman to work with the community and re-imagine the future of the SR-710 stub. The team will focus on community inclusion and connectedness, open space, mobility, and quality of life for residents and visitors alike.
History of the SR710 Project
Originally proposed as part of a regional freeway network, the SR-710 project faced opposition and legal disputes, leading to its cancellation. Starting in 2019, Pasadena began efforts to re-imagine the stub by working with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to transfer control to the City. The return of the stub parcel to the City of Pasadena for development highlights the evolving trajectory for future land use and mobility.
The City of Pasadena and City Council have established the community advisory group, Reconnecting Communities 710 Advisory Group, to assist in developing the future vision for the relinquished area. For questions or comments, please contact Senior Project Manager Wendy Macias at (626) 744-4577.
SR-710 Reconnecting Pasadena Project Community open house Saturday, June 22 10:00 am to 12:00 pm Location Victory Park Recreation Center 2575 Paloma Street Pasadena, CA 91107
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