City of Pasadena and the County of Los Angeles will transform vacant Kaiser Permanente building into health and housing site
Today, City of Pasadena Mayor Victor M. Gordo and Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger stood side by side to announce a new partnership that will acquire a Kaiser Permanente building that has stood empty in north Pasadena and transform it into a housing and community services site.
Mayor Gordo shared his vision for the project, approved for purchase yesterday by the Pasadena City Council for $12 million.
“This partnership is a mutual commitment to meet the diverse needs of Pasadena’s residents and businesses,” said Mayor Gordo. “By collaborating with the county, we will foster improved housing conditions, recreation opportunities, and a healthy population through this mixed use project. Purchasing this property is a win-win on many fronts, including bringing more jobs to Pasadena and support to families.”
Supervisor Kathryn Barger described her thoughts about the partnership, including the county’s role and the future services that will be anchored at the site.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to jointly build housing, mental health, and health service capacity that is tailored and responsive to local residents’ needs,” said Supervisor Barger. “I am a proud partner in this effort that will harness Los Angeles County’s mental health and support services to bring the community the resources they deserve. Keeping this property in service to the community is the right thing to do.”
John M. Yamamoto, Kaiser Permanente’s Vice President of Community Health and Government Relations for Southern and Hawaii Markets, shared his perspective on the transaction, which will take place in the coming weeks.
“Kaiser Permanente is committed to the health and well-being of our members and the communities we serve,” said Kaiser Permanente Vice President Yamamoto. “We hope that through this real estate transaction, Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo and L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger are able to achieve their innovative visions for the property. We applaud this collaboration between the City of Pasadena and the County of Los Angeles for its bold approach to addressing mental health access and affordable housing needs in our community.”
Next steps include the City of Pasadena and the County of Los Angeles developing agreements to formalize their partnership and the terms of the sale.
Development efforts will follow all applicable regulations, including environmental impact reviews, public community input meetings, and public hearings required by law.
Click these links for B-roll and photos from the press conference.