Pasadena City Council Clears Way for 133-Unit Affordable Housing Project

Rendering of the proposed Rosemead Family Apartments project at 600 N. Rosemead Blvd. (Photo – FSY Architects)

The Pasadena City Council voted unanimously Monday to reject an appeal of the proposed Rosemead Family Apartments project, clearing the way for construction of a major affordable housing development in Northeast Pasadena.

By John Boucher

The decision follows the Pasadena Design Commission’s approval of the project on April 14, 2026. After that vote, the Lower Hastings Ranch Association filed an appeal seeking to halt the development, citing concerns about neighborhood impacts. The City Council’s May 18 vote officially denied the appeal, allowing the project to move forward.

The Rosemead Family Apartments project will include 133 residential units, 131 of them designated as affordable housing. Two additional units will be reserved for on-site property managers.

Plans call for construction of a new five-story building with 82 apartments, along with the adaptive reuse of an existing two-story office building that will contain 51 units.

Developers used California’s State Density Bonus Law, which provides incentives and zoning concessions for qualifying affordable housing developments near transit. As a result, the project was approved to exceed standard local zoning limits on height and density.

The proposal sparked intense debate among residents, housing advocates and city officials throughout the approval process.

Opponents argued the project is incompatible with the surrounding low-density neighborhood, citing the proposed 68-foot building height and concerns about traffic congestion. Critics also questioned the parking plan, which provides 55 spaces for 133 units.

Supporters, however, described the development as a critical investment in affordable housing in Northeast Pasadena. Housing advocates said the project would help address economic inequality and expand housing access in a city facing rising costs and a limited supply of affordable units.

With the appeal rejected, the project can now advance to the next stages of development and construction.