Three Historical Designations Approved in Pasadena

First Congregational Church of Pasadena (Photo – uccpasadena.org).

Perhaps dwarfed by being on the eve of the significant 2018 mid-term elections, the Monday night meeting of the Pasadena City Council had only six people in attendance. This was, however, before a phalanx of workers for LA County Sanitation came and swelled the ranks, though they vanished after their plea for a new contract was made in open forum.

By Garrett Rowlan

Later, Mayor Tornek announced a November 11 Veteran’s Day observance near City Hall, and the Council got down to its main business, which was the approval of three historical designations for three different buildings in Pasadena.

The first was the former Congregational Church at Los Robles and Walnut, built in 1927-28 and considered a prime example of the Gothic Revival style. It will be upgraded to a combination performance space and residential building.

The second was the property at 885 Madison Avenue, otherwise known at the Joannes House, built in 1911 and considered a prime example of the Mission Revival style.

LA County Sanitation Workers showed up at Pasadena City Council meeting on Mov. 5, 2018 as part of a demand for a new contract (Photo – Garrett Rowlan).

Both of these designations were done rather quickly, the Congregational Church after ten minutes, and the Joannes house after five.

The third designation was for the condominium building at 1000 Cordova Street, also known as Whispering Waters for two now-defunct fountains. This process took over a half hour, not because of any major objection but because of the 15 speakers who appeared before the council, all but one expressing support for the designation.  An example of Mid-Century Modern, the building had been up for a similar designation in 2005 and 2008 without approval. This time it was approved, thanks in part to the public turnout, and thanks no doubt to that era of American life with its ring-a-ding-ding ethos, now having a nostalgic appeal.

In final comments before closing, Councilmember Margaret McAustin noted that LA Metro is building a Transportation High School, and wondered if a similar idea wouldn’t be a good one for Pasadena, whereupon Councilmember John Kennedy mused that the likely-to-be-defunct Grover Cleveland Elementary School would be a good candidate.

The meeting ended at 8:09.

> Watch the full Pasadena City Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 5, 2018.