Desiderio Army Reserve Center - Pasadena · Department of Public Works Background •2005 •US Army recommends the Desiderio facility for closure •2006 •City conducts process

Desiderio Army Reserve Center

Project “Kick-off”

September 10, 2013

Desiderio Neighborhood Park

Desiderio Homes

Department of Public Works

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Project Site

Desiderio

Property

Lower

Arroyo

Seco

Property Features: • 5.1 acres

• 4 existing structures

• Mostly paved

History: • Originally part of the 1903

Vista del Arroyo hotel

complex

• Acquired by the Army in

1943

• Desiderio Army Reserve

Center built in 1956


Background

• 2005

• US Army recommends the Desiderio facility for closure

• 2006

• City conducts process to determine best use of the site

• 11 re-use proposals received, presented to 4 committees and

commissions

• Finalists selected over 3 additional commission meetings

• 2007

• Council approves neighborhood park/affordable housing concept

• 2011

• Formal proposal submitted to the Federal Government

• 2013

• City accepts property, finalizes transfer

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Existing Conditions

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Existing Buildings

(view from Colorado

Bridge)

View from Westminster

Dr.

View from Arroyo Blvd.


Design Concept

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~3.8 Acre Neighborhood Park

Proposed Features: • Open Turf Area (“Meadow”) w/ trees

• Security Lighting

• Walkways that loop around and through the park

• Site furnishings

• Play Equipment (small “Tot Lot”)

Additional Considerations: • Native grasses and plantings consistent with the

adjacent Lower Arroyo Seco

• Naturalistic play elements dispersed throughout the

park

• Small Picnic Ramada (family scale; 2 tables)

• Street crossing across Arroyo Boulevard from

Desiderio Park to Lower Arroyo trails (at Westminster

Drive)

• Restrooms (as part of the future building)

• 10-15 parking spaces

Building Homes, Building Hope:

Making a Difference with the SGV Habitat Affiliate

Funds

presented to citizen partners of

by

Sonja L. Yates, SGV Habitat Executive Director

September 10, 2013

Objectives

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• Review how SGV Habitat is bringing affordable, quality

housing to Pasadena adjacent to Desiderio Park –

which will be YOUR park, too!

• Learn how you can get involved with our mission of:

Transforming lives & communities

by bringing people together

to build, renovate, & repair affordable homes

for families in need.

Background & Purpose

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• Independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity

International

• Licensed contractor

• Create & maintain decent housing for low-income

families throughout our chartered service area

• The homes built are not "free" or "given away"

• Houses are sold to partner families at no profit

Service Area

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Future Build

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About Desiderio

Bringing affordable housing back to Pasadena!

1.29-acre build site in the Arroyo Seco – former

Desiderio Army Reserve Center

New bungalow courtyard with 9 single family homes

Groundbreaking expected in late 2014

Dedication/sale of homes in 2016

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Desiderio

Economics

Approx. $2.2 million required by HUD to secure

PBC

Total project cost = approx. $3 million

Raised $1,551,462 to-date

3 homes reserved for veteran families

Homeowner Requirements

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• Live in service area

• Low-income, U.S. citizens or legal residents

• Live in substandard, overcrowded,

unaffordable rental housing

• Rent = >30% of gross income

Homeowner Requirements

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• Make 1% cash down payment, 0% interest

mortgage payments & related costs of

homeownership

• Fund for Humanity

• Contribute 500 hours of Sweat Equity

• Participate in homeownership training

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Serving those looking for a hand-up, not a handout.

Houses sold to partner families at no profit.

Habitat is not a giveaway program.

Homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments help support

the building of still more Habitat homes.

Homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own

sweat equity into building their Habitat house & the

houses of others.

Conclusion

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Neighborhoods & property values strengthened

4-star Charity Navigator rating for sound fiscal

management

Conclusion

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How you can help:

Donations: Monetary & In-kind

Legacy Program: Beneficiary

in will or trust

Volunteer Opportunities

Construction site

Committees

Advocacy

Administrative & ReStore

Next Actions

Planning & Community Development Department

Project Review Process

Planning Department

Planned Development

• Zone Change

• For large parcels

• Allows flexibility

• Allows specificity

• Requires City Council approval

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Planning Department

California Environmental Quality Act

Purpose: to inform public agency decision-makers and the public of the potentially significant environmental effects of a project

Applies to discretionary projects

Identifies potential impacts on the environment

Identifies ways to avoid or reduce potential impacts through mitigation measures or alternatives

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Planning Department

Overview of CEQA Process

Notice of Preparation/Initial Study • 30 day public review period

• Scoping Meeting – October 9, 2013

Prepare & Publish Draft EIR • 45-day public review

• Commissions Review

Prepare & Publish Final EIR • Response to Comments on Draft EIR

• Corrections or Additions to Draft EIR

City Council Certifies Final EIR/Project Review

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Planning Department

CEQA Process Flowchart

Prepare Initial Study

Prepare/Distribute Notice of Preparation (30 day review period)

Scoping Meeting

Prepare Draft EIR

Prepare Public Notice of Draft EIR Availability

Public and Agency Review of Draft EIR

(45 days)

Prepare Final EIR Including Response to Comments

Review of Responses by Commenting Agencies

Formal City Decision

File Notice of Determination

Design Draft EIR Public Hearings

= opportunities for Public Input

Planning Department

Initial Study – Types of Impacts

No Impact

• No impact found; No further study in EIR.

Less Than Significant Impact

• Impact does not exceed threshold(s) of significance

(with mitigation); No further study in EIR.

Potentially Significant Impact

• Impact may exceed threshold(s) of significance;

Further study required in EIR.

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Project Process

• Fiscal Year 2014

> Community meeting to re-introduce the project

> Design Development/CEQA

> Construction Documents

• Future

> Construction

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Questions/Comments

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“How lovely to think

that no one need wait

a moment; we can start

now, start slowly

changing the world!”

-Anne Frank

Desiderio

Neighborhood Park


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