Housing Division
The newest division under Community Development is the Housing Division. The Division is responsible for overseeing affordable housing development in South Pasadena. Additionally, the Housing Division is responsible for managing the implementation of the City’s housing programs, including those listed in the 2021-2029 Housing Element.
Housing Division staff can be contacted via email at housing@southpasadenaca.gov.
Updates from the Housing Division
January 21, 2025
Inclusionary Housing Ordinance (IHO) In-Lieu Fee
On February 5, 2025, the City Council will conduct a public hearing (continued from December 4, 2024) to consider adopting a resolution that would establish an affordable housing in-lieu fee pursuant to the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance of Section 36.375 of the South Pasadena Municipal Code.
Data regarding the method of calculating the inclusionary housing fee is available in the following linked report: Economic and Planning Systems Memorandum: South Pasadena Inclusionary Housing In-Lieu Fee Calculation dated April 4, 2024(PDF, 468KB).
January 13, 2025
Emergency Rule: Price Gouging Restrictions
In an emergency declaration, landlords can't increase the price of rental housing by more than 10% of the previously charged or advertised price. For rental housing that was not rented or advertised for rent prior to the declaration of emergency, the price cannot exceed 160% of the fair market value of the rental housing as established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
For more information about emergency limits on rent hikes and other price gouging restrictions, visit the California Attorney General’s Frequently Asked Questions on price gouging at https://oag.ca.gov/consumers/pricegougingduringdisasters.
January 8, 2025
Housing Trust Fund
The City of South Pasadena is establishing a Housing Trust Fund to support programs and projects that help make affordable housing a reality for residents. Community input is welcomed to help prioritize how the Fund should be tailored to the community's unique needs.
We invite you to share your thoughts on this and other Community Development initiatives during in-person Community Listening Sessions:
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
- City Council Chambers, 1424 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA 91030
- 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 23, 2025
- City Council Chambers, 1424 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA 91030
- 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
November 20, 2024
Affordable Senior Housing Project (1503-1507 El Centro Street)
On November 6, the City Council took a big step forward toward the development of a 52-unit affordable senior housing project at 1503-1507 El Centro, unanimously voting to approve an exclusive negotiating agreement (ENA) with Related/SoCal Development, LLC., to partner with the City on the project. The agreement gives the City of South Pasadena and Related up to one year to agree on a ground lease and other details of site development, with additional opportunities for two three-month extensions. Once the City and Related reach an agreement and architectural plans are prepared, Related would submit a Planning application to begin the entitlement process.
The ENA specifies that, “The Developer shall bear all fees, costs and expenses of any kind related to all activity undertaken for the Project during the ENA Period including but not limited to all, environmental, physical, engineering, financial, and feasibility investigations, reports and analyses and other analyses or activities performed by or for the Developer; provided however, the Developer may seek predevelopment financing at its discretion.”
Ultimately, the project will require approval by the Council, sitting as the Housing Authority, and will need to obtain all required Planning and Building permits prior to breaking ground. As a 100% affordable housing project, Planning approval will be streamlined, with staff review for compliance with standards and no discretionary permit processes.
The development process for joint public/private partnership affordable housing projects generally takes multiple years.
The development of this affordable senior housing project is an important programmatic goal of the City’s 2021-2029 Housing Element. The location on the corner of El Centro and Mound Streets includes three City-owned parcels with a total of 17,800 square feet:
- APN 5315-003-902 (No address)
- APN 5315-003-903 (1503 El Centro Street)
- APN 5315-003-904 (1507 El Centro Street)
The location near shopping and services on Fair Oaks, is ideal for a senior living facility that caters to an underserved segment of South Pasadena’s community.
Rent Stabilization Ordinance Development
Another important Housing Element Program under Goal 6 (Expand and strengthen tenant protections for South Pasadena’s existing renters) is the development of a Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) for Council’s consideration. In October, following Council direction and funding for consultant services, staff held a kick-off meeting with HR&A Advisors, the selected consultants for the project. Research is underway as the consultants examine RSOs of comparable jurisdictions and analyze the benefits, administrative structures and costs. To understand the local context and community expectations and concerns, HR&A is scheduling two stakeholder meetings at the beginning of December with South Pasadena property owners (landlords) and tenants who have expressed interest in being involved in this effort. Additional opportunities for input will follow, with the goal of bringing a presentation to Council in February for further direction.
If you would like to receive updates on this project, please contact the City of South Pasadena Housing Division via email at housing@southpasadenaca.gov to sign up for our mailing list.
February 1, 2024
The last several months have been busy for the Housing Division. On November 15, 2023, six months after the enactment of a moratorium on no-fault just cause evictions, the City of South Pasadena adopted an amended Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance that eliminates substantial remodel as a just cause for eviction. Extensive community outreach and research informed this permanent ordinance, which went into effect on December 15, 2023. In keeping with the City’s commitments in the Housing Element, staff continues to move forward with other tenant protection programs and is currently researching options for the development of a rental registry. Other current projects include the City’s solicitation of housing-related legal services and an affordable housing development at the southeast corner of the intersection of Mound Avenue and El Centro Street. All in all, the Housing Division will be kept busy for months to come with exciting projects aimed at preserving and expanding stable and affordable housing opportunities across South Pasadena.