It’s official: The city of Pasadena announced this week that it has taken formal ownership of a long-vacant former Kaiser Permanente property, with a goal of using it as a one-stop hub for affordable housing and mental health services in the region.
The 2.28-acre site, at the southeast corner of Lake Avenue and Villa Street, had sat empty for 10 years before Los Angeles County and city officials joined back in April in an ambitious plan to reimagine it. That plan includes up to 100 housing units and a goal to expand homeless, mental health and community services in an area officials say is “high priority” for such services.
“This project, in partnership with Los Angeles County, is an opportunity to bring much-needed health care and mental health care services to our residents at one location,” said Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo in a statement accompanying the announcement. “It also is an opportunity to develop quality affordable housing and improve the overall economic vitality of this part of our City.”
Gordo said the work of developing the site will now commence in earnest, adding that he believes the project is a good example of government collaboration.
In April, the City Council approved an agreement with Kaiser for the property. The Board of Supervisors later did the same, in what was said to be a $12 million purchase.
Early on, there was talk about Fuller School of Psychology and Pacific Oaks College coming on to address the lack of mental health staffing. But that is not part of the agreement.
Officials at the county and city envision the site as a model to address homelessness and the mental health crisis across the state, and locally.
While a specific timeline for the project was not announced, City Manager Miguel Marquez said a request for proposals for the site’s development should be released in about 90 days.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect that Fuller School of Psychology and Pacific Oaks College, while discussed in early talks about the site, were not part of the agreement.
