Pasadena, California, September 8, 2025
News Summary
The Pasadena City Council will consider an amended development and 99‑year lease for Ramona Senior Housing, a proposed five‑story, 100‑unit affordable building at 280 Ramona St. The $83.1 million project would provide 99 units for low‑income seniors and one manager unit. The Council is asked to recognize $5 million in State Local Housing Trust Fund support and account for roughly $19.24 million in city support (including a ground lease value and state construction loans). The project was previously CEQA in‑fill exempt; design approval is complete and the developer is seeking additional financing to close a reported funding gap.
Pasadena City Council to vote on amended lease and $5 million in state funding for Ramona Senior Housing
The Pasadena City Council will consider a set of administrative actions on Monday that would advance a five‑story, 100‑unit senior affordable housing project at 280 Ramona St. in the Civic Center. The council is scheduled to vote on amended business terms of a development and lease agreement with National Community Renaissance of California and to recognize $5 million in State Local Housing Trust Fund dollars in the Housing Department’s FY2026 operating budget.
What’s at stake
The proposed development, called Ramona Senior Housing, is an $83.1 million project featuring 100 units—99 units set aside for low‑income seniors and one unit for an on‑site resident manager. The building was approved by the city’s Design Commission in 2024 and will include a community room, a courtyard and on‑site management offices. Several units are reserved for seniors experiencing homelessness.
Funding and city support
City support for the project totals about $19.24 million, composed of a $14.49 million ground lease value and the proposed $4.75 million construction loan portion of the State Local Housing Trust Fund award. The full state allocation also includes $250,000 for administrative support.
Other identified funding sources include $2.76 million in federal HOME program allocations and $8.19 million in loans from Los Angeles County’s No Place Like Home program. That county program will also provide rental vouchers for 48 units. The developer has applied for state Multifamily Finance funds, Low Income Housing Tax Credits and support from the Federal Home Loan Bank. Despite these sources, the developer estimates a funding gap of nearly $50.7 million.
Lease, affordability and approvals
Under the proposed terms, the developer would lease the city‑owned site for 99 years at a rate of $1 per year, and an accompanying regulatory agreement would ensure affordability for the same 99‑year term. The project would be subject to Pasadena’s minimum wage and local hiring rules. City officials characterize the budget and lease amendments as administrative actions not subject to CEQA review; the development itself was previously deemed exempt under the CEQA in‑fill housing category.
Design and operations
The five‑story building will not provide on‑site parking. Instead, it will include a covered loading zone and a dedicated paratransit pickup area along Ramona Street. Amenities are designed to support resident services and community space, but staff noted final operational details remain tied to funding and regulatory approvals.
Other council agenda highlights
Along with the Ramona project, the council will consider a range of municipal actions that affect streets, transit, public safety, utilities and homelessness services:
- Finance Department printing supplies: The city will renew a contract to buy specialized paper and envelopes for in‑house printing. The Finance Department has purchased more than $200,000 in these supplies from the same vendor since 2015. The contract cost is covered in the current adopted operating budget, with future purchases budgeted annually.
- Measure A homelessness funds: Pasadena is set to receive $1.32 million for FY2026 from a county Measure A allocation. Proposed amendments would support rapid rehousing for up to 15 households, housing navigation for up to 25 individuals, and thousands of motel nights of emergency shelter through local providers. Contract extensions of up to five years and exemptions from competitive bid requirements are part of the recommended package.
- Fair Oaks and Madison resurfacing: The council is set to award a resurfacing contract to Toro Enterprises to repave Fair Oaks Avenue from Washington Boulevard to the north city limit and resurface Madison Avenue between Villa Street and Orange Grove Boulevard. The lowest bid is about $1.72 million, including contingency, and is expected to raise Fair Oaks’ Pavement Condition Index from 57 to 100. Work could begin in October and finish in December.
- FY2026 CIP and budget amendments: Amendments would carry forward $1.37 million from closed projects and add roughly $12 million in multi‑department changes, boosting the city’s Capital Improvement Program by $13.39 million. Major items include funding for street resurfacing, sewer relining, park playgrounds, police technology and power utility equipment transfers.
- Speed hump policy changes: Staff propose lowering the daily traffic minimum for speed hump eligibility from 1,000 to 500 trips and updating voting rules to require a two‑thirds approval of returned ballots with at least a 50 percent response rate. The changes would also allow Greenway bike routes to be considered for humps.
- Bicycle code updates: Amendments to municipal code would align the definition of bicycle with state law, remove local bicycle registration requirements, and clarify sidewalk riding rules including a 10 mph sidewalk speed cap and a 5 mph cap when pedestrians are present.
- Solar and storage sizing: Pasadena Water and Power is proposing to allow rooftop and commercial solar systems sized up to 150 percent of a customer’s recent annual use, and larger systems up to 1 megawatt when paired with energy storage and subject to grid review. The change is meant to modernize limits and encourage storage adoption.
Context and precedent
The Ramona project follows recent local seniors housing efforts that combined public land, public funding and supportive services in order to deliver permanent housing for older adults, including examples completed in the last year. Multiple city commissions and committees reviewed related items earlier in the year, and staff reports tie many actions to the city’s General Plan housing goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the council voting on regarding the Ramona project?
The council will vote on amended business terms of a development and lease agreement with the developer and on recognizing $5 million in State Local Housing Trust Fund dollars in the Housing Department’s FY2026 operating budget.
How many units and who will the project serve?
The project would include 100 units: 99 for low‑income seniors and one for a resident manager, with some units reserved for seniors experiencing homelessness.
How much will the project cost and how is it funded?
Total project cost is about $83.1 million. Identified funding includes city support of roughly $19.24 million, federal HOME funds, county loans and vouchers, state trust fund loans and other financing applications. The developer reports a funding gap near $50.7 million.
Will the building include parking?
No. The design does not include on‑site parking. The project will provide a covered loading zone and a paratransit pickup area along Ramona Street.
What are the lease and affordability terms?
The developer would lease the site for 99 years at $1 per year, and a regulatory agreement would require long‑term affordability for the same 99‑year term.
Is the project subject to environmental review?
The budget and lease amendments are treated as administrative and not subject to CEQA. The development itself was previously found exempt under the CEQA in‑fill exemption.
When would construction happen?
Construction timing depends on final financing and permitting. The project has completed design review approval; further scheduling will follow funding and permit clearances.
Key features at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Project site | 280 Ramona St., Pasadena Civic Center |
| Units | 100 total (99 low‑income senior units + 1 manager unit) |
| Project cost | $83.1 million |
| City support | $19.24 million (ground lease value + state construction loan) |
| State funding | $4.75 million construction loan + $250,000 admin (State Local Housing Trust Fund) |
| Parking | No on‑site parking; covered loading zone and paratransit pickup area |
| Lease term | 99 years at $1 per year; affordability covenants for 99 years |
| CEQA status | Budget and lease amendments administrative (not CEQA); project previously in‑fill exempt |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- Pasadena Now — City Council to consider $83.1M senior housing project
- Wikipedia: Ramona Senior Housing
- Pasadena Now — Design Commission to discuss senior living project on Walnut Street
- Google Search: Pasadena Design Commission Walnut Street senior living
- Housing Finance — Heritage Square South delivers hope and housing for formerly homeless seniors in Pasadena
- Google Scholar: supportive housing formerly homeless seniors Pasadena
- Los Angeles Times — Pasadena retirement home “A Familiar Touch” (Villa Gardens)
- Encyclopedia Britannica: retirement home
- USA Today — LA fires assisted living (Pasadena Eaton fire)
- Google News: Pasadena Eaton fire assisted living
Author: Construction TX News
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