Meta Housing Plans 144 Affordable Apartments in Pasadena

• Meta Housing Corporation is proposing a six-story, 144-unit affordable housing development at 2000 East Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena.
• All but one manager's apartment would be income-restricted, allowing the project to use density bonus incentives.
• Designed by Studio One Eleven, the development would include one- to three-bedroom apartments, 64 parking spaces, ground-floor amenities and street-fronting townhomes.
• The project is located close to another proposed Meta Housing development at 2155 East Colorado Boulevard, which would add another 214 affordable units.

What Is Planned for 2000 East Colorado Boulevard

Meta Housing Corporation is planning a new affordable housing development at 2000 East Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, adding 144 apartments to the city's growing pipeline of income-restricted housing. The proposed building would rise six stories and include 144 residential units. All but one unit would be designated as affordable housing, with the remaining apartment reserved for an on-site manager. The project would use density bonus incentives available to developments that provide income-restricted housing. Because the property is located within Pasadena rather than Los Angeles, however, it would not qualify for Los Angeles' Executive Directive 1 program.

 

 

What the Apartments and Site Will Include

The apartments would range from one to three bedrooms, providing a mix of unit sizes for different household types. The development would include parking for 64 vehicles beneath the residential portion of the building. On the ground floor, amenities would face Colorado Boulevard, while street-fronting townhome units would line San Marino Avenue. The project is designed by Studio One Eleven, which is incorporating different building types and street-facing uses into the development to create a more varied presence along the two streets. Income targets for the affordable apartments have not yet been publicly disclosed.

What Approvals the Project Has Received

The Pasadena Design Commission has completed a preliminary review of the proposal. Formal approval has not yet been granted, meaning the project remains in the planning and entitlement process. No construction timeline has been announced.

What Meta Housing Is Planning Nearby

The proposed development is only a short distance from another major Meta Housing project at 2155 East Colorado Boulevard. That development, known as Colorado Grand Oaks, is planned as a six-story, 214-unit affordable housing complex with parking for 109 vehicles. It would replace a stretch of vacant commercial buildings. Like the 2000 East Colorado Boulevard project, Colorado Grand Oaks would be almost entirely affordable, with only two manager's units excluded from the affordable housing program. Together, the two projects could add 358 new apartments along East Colorado Boulevard, significantly expanding the supply of income-restricted housing in the area.

What Pasadena's Housing Goals Mean for the Development

Pasadena is required to plan for 9,429 new housing units by 2029 under its current housing obligations. Of those, 5,974 units must be affordable to low- and moderate-income households. The Meta Housing proposals contribute directly to that requirement, with both East Colorado Boulevard developments designed primarily around affordable housing. The company's activity also extends beyond Pasadena. Meta Housing is pursuing several other affordable housing projects throughout Greater Los Angeles, including a planned 395-unit senior housing development at 21010 Vanowen Street in Canoga Park, a proposed project at 6033-6039 De Soto Avenue in Warner Center, and a 301-unit affordable housing development at 21300 West Oxnard Street in Tarzana, which is already under construction.