City council has
workshop on
Ambassador project

By Mathew Morgan
Secretary
Board of directors

WORKSHOP—Bernie Schnippert addresses
council. [Photo by Thomas C. Hanson]

The Pasadena city council conducted an information workshop on the Ambassador campus development plan, March 4, at the Pasadena Hilton.

About 400 people attended the meeting, which started at 8:30 p.m. and adjourned around 12:30 a.m. During the meeting, the city staff updated the council on the proposed development. The plan calls for the reopening of the Ambassador Auditorium under city ownership and retention of the gardens, streams and historic mansions. The proposal also calls for the addition of 1,727 housing units ranging in size from small studio apartments to 3,500 square feet luxury condominiums.

Bill Shubin of Legacy Partners and Bernie Schnippert, representing the church, addressed the council. Mr. Shubin presented fiscal benefits that would accrue to the city because of the development.

Dr. Schnippert then explained that the church chose the Legacy proposal because it was the best proposal for the community, the city and the church. He explained that alternate options available to the church, such as selling the property parcel by parcel to different buyers, would disappoint many and would not be in the best interest of the city or the community. He encouraged the council to accept the Legacy option as proposed.

After the formal presentations, Mayor William Bogaard invited comments from the public. Some Pasadena residents objected to the development because they thought the project would add too many housing units to the neighborhood and increase traffic. Many also spoke in favor of the project expressing excitement about the reopening of the Ambassador Auditorium and the retention of the gardens and historic mansions.

Some also spoke in favor of the project because it offers much needed housing in Pasadena. Some area church members attended the meeting adding support to the project. Others from near and far were praying that the proposed project would receive enough positive community input to offset the dissenters. Their prayers were answered.

The Legacy plan will next be reviewed by the Traffic Advisory Commission and the Planning Commission before returning to the city council for final review. Please keep the sale of the property in your daily prayers. We will endeavor to keep you updated more often now that the process is reaching the critical approval stage.

Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2002