Eliot Arts Magnet as it appeared on the day the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officially handed it back to PUSD in 2025 (Photo – W.K.)
Pasadena Unified School District Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco issued a message to the community addressing growing concern and emotional debate surrounding the future of the Eliot tower following damage caused by the Eaton Fire.
By News Desk
In her statement, Blanco acknowledged the tower’s deep significance to students, alumni, families, staff, and the broader Altadena community, describing it as “far more than a building” and “a symbol of identity, of belonging, and of resilience.”
Blanco said district leaders share the community’s desire to preserve Eliot and emphasized that the Pasadena Unified Board of Education previously committed to rebuilding the campus through Resolution 2800, which recognized the site’s history and character.
According to the superintendent, emergency response work following the fire included cleanup efforts and partial emergency demolition conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Since then, PUSD has worked with architects, structural engineers, and the Division of the State Architect to assess the remaining structures.
Those evaluations found that the combined effects of fire, heat, and seismic damage left the remaining structures, including the tower, in what experts determined to be an unsafe condition.
Although the tower is not formally designated as a historic resource, Blanco said the district recognizes its historical and cultural significance both in the PUSD Facilities Master Plan and within the community. She stated that PUSD will treat the tower as a historical resource under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Blanco stressed that no demolition decision has been made and said the district must complete additional engineering and structural studies before determining what preservation options may be possible.
The district also plans to undertake a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) before any redevelopment decisions are finalized for the campus. Blanco described the EIR as the most comprehensive environmental review process available under California law, noting that it will take several months to complete.
The review process will examine environmental impacts, evaluate whether the tower could be adapted for reuse, and identify ways to reduce potential impacts tied to future redevelopment plans.
Blanco said the district intends to involve the Eliot and Altadena communities throughout the process through public review periods, public comment opportunities, collaboration with the Altadena Town Council, and the district’s broader facilities master planning discussions.
“We are committed to listening and engaging with you thoughtfully in these conversations,” Blanco wrote.
The statement concluded with Blanco thanking the community for its continued engagement and support during what she described as an especially painful period following the Eaton Fire.
No studies are necessary if you’re not going to tear it down. Quiet continuing of the plan and not informing the public is NOT encouraging or legal.