Update on Sale of Campus

Church prepares to sell homes

By Mathew Morgan

PASADENA—Preparations to sell five homes along Orange Grove Boulevard are nearing completion.

The sale of these homes now allows the church to take advantage of a strong residential market in California. Dickson-Podley, a respected local real estate firm, will serve as broker for the homes, which will be offered for sale in December. Dickson estimates the homes will sell for around $1 million each, some slightly more, perhaps.

The City of Pasadena approved the church’s request to create a landmark district for the homes. Named the Ross Grove Landmark District, this designation provides a method for ensuring that the historic homes retain their beauty and character in the future.

Ambassador campus entitlements

We are anticipating the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) in December. The EIR is an independent analysis required for many development projects by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to evaluate the potential effects of new developments on the environment, as well as to identify mitigation measures. The release of the document will mark a significant milestone in the entitlement process.

As we move forward with the entitlement phase, the project team has been retooled. Up to now, SheaHomes served as master development consultant in the church’s planning effort. Because SheaHomes decided to reassign its project manager, and other contract issues, the church’s project team will no longer include SheaHomes.

John Shea, president of J.F. Shea Co., said: “SheaHomes’ collaboration with the Worldwide Church of God has resulted in an outstanding development proposal of which SheaHomes, the church and the City of Pasadena can all be proud.

“The church and SheaHomes are in agreement on the design and key aspects of the project. Although our formal involvement on the project team is over, we remain available to the church to give the kind of informal advice you would expect from two organizations used to working amicably on a project important to both parties.

“SheaHomes assembled the development team, with the church’s approval, and we know firsthand that the other professionals, including the architectural and planning firms of Van Tilburg, Banvard & Soderbergh and EDAW, will shepherd the development to completion.”

Sid Paul appointed project director

Sid Paul is the newly appointed project director for the entitlement of the Ambassador campus. Sid brings a strong background in residential development from three of the largest and most prestigious homebuilders in the nation: SheaHomes, John Laing Homes and Kaufman & Broad. In each of these highly respected companies, Mr. Paul has managed significant residential developments through the planning and entitlement process.

Mr. Paul joined SheaHomes in 2003 to manage the planning and entitlement process for the Ambassador campus. He led the entitlement team that brought the Ambassador campus master plan to fruition. In his role as project director, Mr. Paul continues to lead the entitlement team including architects Van Tilburg, Banvard & Soderbergh, landscape design and planning firm EDAW, and traffic consultant Meyer, Mohaddes Associates and others.

Before he served in his position as SheaHomes’ community development manager for the Ambassador campus, Mr. Paul was project manager for John Laing Homes, where he oversaw new home community development in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, shepherding projects through the design and entitlement processes.

Mr. Paul held a similar planning role at Kaufman & Broad, leading residential projects through the planning and entitlement phases to the first stages of construction. Earlier, at Graves Engineering of San Diego, Mr. Paul was responsible for the design and entitlement processing for various subdivisions.

Mr. Paul holds a master’s degree in real estate development from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s of science degree in civil engineering from San Diego State University. We are pleased he has chosen to continue leading the team.

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