A new chapter appears to be starting in a generational battle that has spanned more than six decades, as the city of Pasadena is poised to buy and resell more than a dozen vacant homes owned by Caltrans through eminent domain as part of the now-defunct 710 North expansion project.
On Monday, Oct. 30, the City Council will consider awarding contracts for broker listing services to Compass, Beautiful Pasadena Homes and Sotheby’s International for an amount not to exceed $1,387,260.
The proposed action – which would effectively enable the homes to be re-sold after being acquired from Caltrans, and contracts with the firms who would broker the sales — represents a milestone moment in the long-running saga of Caltrans properties languishing after the state long ago tried to build the 710 Freeway extension through El Sereno, South Pasadena and Pasadena.
“Here we have 17 homes that have been vacant for decades. Just to get those back in service, that’s a big deal,” said William Huang, Pasadena’s housing director. “It’s a big deal to not have vacant homes scattered throughout neighborhoods.”
First things first, of course. Monday’s action — if the council approves – is in itself only a first step.
In July, Huang said Caltrans had released 17 vacant single-family homes to the city for purchase as part of SB 959, a law that compels the state to sell vacant homes that were part of the failed 710 project in Pasadena back to the city to further affordable housing.
The city identified four properties as potential affordable homeownership opportunities, and the remaining 13 will be marketed and sold, with the proceeds going toward affordable housing. Caltrans owns more than 100 properties in Pasadena in total, mainly along St. John and Pasadena Avenues. But many of those properties are occupied, with tenancy arrangements being worked out between Caltrans and the tenants.
At issue for the City Council on Monday will consider whether to give the…
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