The Pasadena City Council voted unanimously on March 2, 2024, to deny an appeal from St. Philip the Apostle Church regarding a proposed four-story research and development building planned by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). The decision followed an intense public hearing that lasted nearly four hours, during which council members heard testimonies from developers, church representatives, and numerous Pasadena residents.
Caltech has acquired property located at the intersection of Green Street and Holliston Avenue, where it plans to construct a 93,539-square-foot facility featuring subterranean parking. The project had previously garnered concept design approval from the city’s Design Commission in January, a decision that prompted the church’s appeal.
The City Council chambers were filled to capacity, with additional overflow space necessary as community members gathered to voice their opinions on the project. According to the city clerk, over 700 letters were submitted opposing the project, while 31 letters expressed support.
During the public comment section, nearly 60 individuals spoke, with a significant majority advocating for the Caltech initiative. Faculty members, students, and administrators from the university emphasized the need for expanded laboratory space to support innovation and retain potential startups within Pasadena.
Former City Councilmember Andy Wilson highlighted the economic benefits, stating, “I encourage you to support this project. Not as a favor to Caltech, but as an expression of Pasadena’s ongoing commitment to its own future. This is a high-value, place-based economic asset that helps our city remain competitive, resilient and relevant.”
In response to community concerns, the project developer, Trammell Crow Company, announced plans to reduce the height of the building to 73 feet and decrease the number of subterranean parking spaces from 260 to 200. Caltech aims to create an innovation center within the building to bolster its startup ecosystem. City officials confirmed that the proposed land use aligns with Pasadena’s zoning code and adheres to the East Colorado Specific Plan.
Opponents of the project, including parishioners and parents of children attending the church school, called for a comprehensive environmental impact report and questioned why the facility could not be relocated to a different area of the city. Attorney Richard McDonald, representing the opponents, argued, “In law there’s a saying that you can have a perfectly well-reasoned opinion that makes absolutely logical sense that leads to an absurd outcome and that is what you have here tonight.”
The next step for the project involves a final design review, which will determine the specifics of its implementation. Caltech officials indicated that if construction begins in the fall, completion could be anticipated by 2028 or 2029. The City Council meeting was streamed live on YouTube, allowing broader community access to the proceedings.
Concern for the impact of the proposed building on the local environment and community remains a significant point of contention as Caltech moves forward with its plans.
