U.S. Rep. Judy Chu joins Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo and many others for the festive ribbon-cutting celebration
PASADENA, Calif. (August 14, 2024) – BRIDGE Housing, the leading nonprofit affordable housing developer and manager on the West Coast, joined with elected leaders, housing officials, community members and residents today to celebrate the grand opening of Heritage Square South, a new community providing 69 units of permanent supportive housing in Pasadena for seniors who previously experienced homelessness.
Heritage Square South will help address the critical housing crisis affecting communities in Southern California, where extremely high costs and low availability have put stable housing increasingly out of reach. Seniors have been especially hard-hit by the worsening crisis.
Located in a bustling commercial area at the corner of Fair Oaks Ave. and Orange Grove Blvd., Heritage Square South will provide affordable 1-bedroom apartments for seniors who have previously experienced homelessness in three three-story buildings, connected by pedestrian bridges. Intensive case management services for residents will be provided to residents by Pasadena-based Union Station Homeless Services. The services will include counseling, assistance with healthcare, independent living support, on-site activities, and more.
Today’s festive ribbon-cutting was attended by dozens of people representing many facets of affordable housing development – government officials and policymakers, financing partners, nonprofit service providers, real estate professionals, community members and more.
“All seniors deserve a home where they can live with dignity. Each of these 69 units will give residents a safe, stable place to call home and comprehensive services to help them change their lives for the better,” said BRIDGE President and CEO Ken Lombard. “BRIDGE Housing is delighted to work with the City of Pasadena and our partners to serve some of our most vulnerable neighbors.”
“It’s not right that here in Pasadena, or anywhere, many of our neighbors struggle to put a roof over their head, have no local housing options within their budget, or are just one paycheck away from becoming unhoused,” said Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28). “That’s why projects like Heritage Square South are so critical, and nearly seventy seniors who have experienced homelessness will now have a place to call home here in Pasadena with access to amenities and vital case management services from Union Station Homeless Services. I will continue pushing for solutions to our housing crisis in Congress, in collaboration with partners at the federal, state, and local levels.”
“The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, in partnership with our member bank Wells Fargo, is proud to have played a role in making this permanent supportive housing development in Pasadena a reality,” said Eric Cicourel, Community Investment Officer with FHLBank San Francisco. “Heritage Square delivers much-needed housing to vulnerable senior citizens who have experienced homelessness, providing them a new, stable place to call home.”
“Heritage Square South represents a vital step forward in this community’s commitment to ending homelessness among our seniors,” said Union Station Homeless Services Interim CEO, Howard Kahn. “Union Station Homeless Services is honored to partner with BRIDGE Housing to provide the supportive services helping residents not only secure a safe place to call home, but also to thrive with dignity within this supportive community.”
Keith D. Dickson is a lifelong San Gabriel Valley resident who owned a high-end auto repair shop in Pasadena until the Covid pandemic dried up his business. A doubling of his rent levels and an illness forced him to give up his house, and he lived in his car for two years before moving into Heritage Square South this past spring.
“It’s a wonderful apartment. It’s nice and clean, and there are a lot of good people here,” said Dickson, who is 72. “I thank god every day that I have a roof over my head.”
Amenities at Heritage Square South include a leasing office, an onsite manager, 24-hour security, laundry rooms, an outdoor courtyard, outdoor lounging areas, two flex rooms, and a community room. It also includes 2,200 square feet of commercial space. Powered in part by renewable energy, Heritage Square South is an Affordable Multifamily GreenPoint Rated Platinum project.
Located on the former site of a fried chicken restaurant, Heritage Square South is adjacent to another BRIDGE Housing development, Heritage Square, which opened in 2016 with 70 affordable apartments for low-income seniors.
Heritage Square South included a local hire program to connect Pasadena residents with employment and training opportunities. In total, 20% of total project work hours went to local residents, providing more than $1.5 million in economic benefits within the City. Several of those workers were offered permanent placements by contractors on the project.
Founded in 1983, BRIDGE Housing has a 40-year history of providing safe, affordable homes for families in the Bay Area and throughout the West Coast. With a focus on community development and comprehensive support services, BRIDGE’s $3.5 billion portfolio totals more than 13,000 units in California, Washington and Oregon, providing affordable homes for 30,000 residents. Another 5,400 units are currently in the development pipeline.
Financing for Heritage Square South was provided by the City of Pasadena, Wells Fargo Bank, JLL Real Estate Capital, FHLBank San Francisco, and California Tax Credit Allocation Committee. The project was designed by KTGY Architects, and the General Contractor was R.D. Olson Construction.
About BRIDGE Housing
BRIDGE Housing is a leading nonprofit developer, owner and manager of high-quality affordable housing on the West Coast, with a mission to strengthen communities and improve lives. Founded in 1983, BRIDGE has participated in the creation of more than 21,000 affordable homes in California, Oregon and Washington, with a total development cost of $5.2 billion. Its current portfolio totals more than 13,000 apartments that are home to 30,000 residents, with another 8,000 units in the development pipeline. For more information, visit www.bridgehousing.com.