Update on Sale of Campus

Church conducts
listening meetings

Matt Morgan.jpg (21975 bytes) By Mathew Morgan

September was a busy month for the property sale team. We worked diligently on the selection of a master planner-architect, met with interested citizens, Pasadena city staff and political representatives as part of an active listening campaign and worked with financial consultants to consider the church’s financial opportunities and constraints afforded by the exciting new residential neighborhood planned on the Ambassador campus.

Architect selection near

Representatives from the church and SheaHomes, master development consultant, interviewed a select group of architects and planners. The finalists, responding to a request for proposals, presented their qualifications, time schedules for completion of the master design, fee requirements and their interpretation of Pasadena’s architectural character to the selection committee.

The architects also suggested ideas for blending public input, market forces and superior design with the existing award-winning grounds to produce an exceptional new neighborhood. The committee is focusing on two candidates. When the final selection is made the architect will join the church and Shea in the ongoing listening phase described below.

Listening meetings conducted

The church and Shea are engaged in an active listening campaign designed to hear suggestions and concerns about the new neighborhood being planned on the Ambassador campus. Input will be gathered from a variety of sources throughout Pasadena and considered as the final development plan is formulated.

First, a series of small meetings will be conducted with individuals, neighborhood groups, elected officials, city staff, civic organizations, business owners and others. Next, a large public meeting will be scheduled allowing all interested parties a chance to be heard. Public comments received at these meetings will be considered as a development plan for the campus is finalized.

The next step will be a public scoping meeting. This meeting will be conducted in accordance with California law under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines, and will provide the public opportunity to comment on the specific development plan presented.

As part of the first listening phase, deputies representing the mayor and other elected Pasadena city council representatives from throughout the city toured the Ambassador campus to learn more about the property and the church’s plan for it.

Bernie Schnippert, church treasurer, led the tour along with Bob Yoder, vice president of community development for Shea. A lunch meeting followed where the deputies asked questions and offered helpful suggestions. This group represents an important audience in the city since the mayor and city council will vote on the final development plan when complete.

Bob Yoder and I also attended a meeting conducted by councilman Steve Madison, the elected official representing the district encompassing the Ambassador campus. The meeting provided an opportunity to meet with and hear suggestions from neighbors.

The article below appeared in the Pasadena Star-News, Thursday, Aug. 29.

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