Pasadena Council to vote on Ramona Senior Housing lease and $5M state funding

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 Council to vote on amended lease, $5M state funds for 100‑unit senior housing at 280 Ramona St.

The Pasadena City Council is set to vote on an amended development and lease agreement for a proposed five‑story senior housing complex at 280 Ramona St. The project, named Ramona Senior Housing, would deliver 100 units — 99 for low‑income seniors and one for a resident manager — on city‑owned land in the Civic Center.

Top lines: cost, funding and lease

The full project cost is estimated at $83.1 million. The Council is being asked to amend the Housing Department budget to recognize $5 million from a State Local Housing Trust Fund pool for the development. That state support includes $4.75 million in construction loans and $250,000 for administrative support.

Total city support for the project would equal about $19.24 million, made up of a $14.49 million ground lease value plus the $4.75 million in state construction loans. The developer has also identified other funding sources including $2.76 million in federal HOME allocations and $8.19 million from Los Angeles County’s No Place Like Home loan program. That county program will also provide rental vouchers for 48 units.

The developer would lease the city‑owned property for 99 years at $1 per year, and a regulatory agreement would keep the apartments affordable for the same 99‑year term. The developer reports a nearly $50.7 million funding gap and is applying for additional financing including state Multifamily Finance funds, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, and support from the Federal Home Loan Bank.

Design, use and operations

The five‑story design received approval from the city’s Design Commission in 2024. Some units will be reserved for seniors who are unhoused. The building would include a community room, a courtyard and on‑site management offices. There will be no on‑site parking; instead a covered loading zone and a dedicated paratransit pick‑up area will be located along Ramona Street. The project would be subject to Pasadena’s minimum wage and local hiring rules.

City officials described the budget and lease changes as administrative actions not subject to the state environmental review law. The housing project itself was previously found exempt under the CEQA in‑fill exemption. The Council action would also let the city manager approve no‑cost amendments, such as time extensions.

Other council items on the agenda

The meeting includes a range of budget and capital items across multiple departments:

• Printing supplies contract: The Finance Department will continue buying specialized paper and envelopes for in‑house printing. The city has bought over $200,000 in such supplies from the same vendor since 2015. Costs will be covered in the Finance Department’s operating budget.
• Measure A homelessness funds: Pasadena, as lead for its Continuum of Care, is set to receive $1.32 million in FY2026 from the county Measure A tax. Proposed amendments would fund rapid rehousing for up to 15 households, navigation for up to 25 people, and thousands of motel nights for emergency shelter through local service providers. Contracts may be extended up to five years.
• Street resurfacing: Toro Enterprises submitted the lowest bid at about $1.72 million to resurface Fair Oaks Avenue (from Washington to the city limit) and Madison Avenue segments with fiber‑reinforced rubberized asphalt. The plan aims to raise the street’s Pavement Condition Index from 57 to 100. Work is expected to run from October to December and would use resurfacing and water capital funds, not the General Fund.
• FY2026 budget and CIP: Amendments would add roughly $13.39 million to the City’s CIP, including Public Works, sewer relining, park and bridge repairs, police technology upgrades, traffic signals, and water utility equipment transfers. The General Fund would account for about $7.9 million of the changes.
• Speed hump rules: Staff proposes lowering the minimum daily traffic threshold for speed hump eligibility from 1,000 to 500 trips, changing the ballot approval rule to require two‑thirds of returned ballots with a minimum 50 percent response rate, and allowing Greenway bike routes to be considered. The changes would take effect immediately if approved.
• Bicycle code updates: Amendments to the municipal code would define bicycles to include electric bikes, remove local registration rules preempted by state law, clarify sidewalk riding and set maximum sidewalk speeds of 10 mph or 5 mph when pedestrians are present, and give the Council authority to restrict bike use on certain crowded retail sidewalks.
• Solar sizing and storage: Pasadena Water and Power staff propose allowing solar systems sized to 150 percent of a customer’s prior annual use, with larger systems up to one megawatt allowed if paired with storage and grid capacity allows. The move aims to modernize limits and expand local clean energy, with future incentives for batteries under consideration.

Context and related projects

The packet also includes background on recent senior housing work in the city, including a completed supportive housing project that provides intensive services for very low‑income seniors. The Design Commission is also reviewing a six‑story assisted living and memory care project at East Walnut Street in concept review.

What comes next

The Council vote will determine whether the city formally amends the lease and budget to move the Ramona project forward and to authorize the other contracting and budget changes. If approved, the amendments would authorize staff to finalize no‑cost adjustments and continue work on funding and permitting while the developer pursues additional financing.

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FAQ

What is the Ramona Senior Housing project?

It is a proposed five‑story, 100‑unit affordable housing building for low‑income seniors at 280 Ramona St. The project includes one manager unit and common spaces but no on‑site parking.

How much will the project cost and who pays?

The estimated cost is $83.1 million. City support totals about $19.24 million (including a ground lease value and state construction loans). Other funding sources include federal HOME funds, county loans and vouchers, and pending state and tax credit applications. The developer reports a funding gap to be filled.

Will the city sell the land?

No. The city would lease the property to the developer for 99 years for $1 per year, and the project would be bound by a 99‑year affordability agreement.

Is the project subject to environmental review?

City staff say the budget and lease actions are administrative and not subject to CEQA; the housing project was previously found exempt under the CEQA in‑fill rule.

When would construction start?

The agenda does not set a construction start date. The developer must secure additional financing and regulatory approvals before moving to building permits.

Key project and agenda features

Item	Detail
Project name	Ramona Senior Housing
Location	280 Ramona St., Pasadena Civic Center
Units	100 total (99 low‑income seniors, 1 manager)
Estimated cost	$83.1 million
City support	$19.24 million (ground lease value + $4.75M state loan)
State funding	$5.0 million recognized in FY2026 budget ($4.75M construction loans, $250K admin)
Lease term	99 years at $1 per year
Parking	No on‑site parking; covered loading zone and paratransit pick‑up on Ramona St.
Environmental review	Project previously deemed CEQA in‑fill exempt; budget/lease changes administrative
Other agenda topics	Printing supplies contract, Measure A homelessness funds, street resurfacing, CIP budget changes, speed hump and bicycle code updates, solar sizing policy

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