South Pasadena selling homes Caltrans once planned to tear down for failed 710 freeway project

Five homes in South Pasadena that for decades were owned by Caltrans as part of a failed effort to extend Interstate 710 are now up for sale after being purchased by the city.

The historic properties could be yours at market value, with prices ranging from nearly $950,000 to more than $1.2 million.

The proceeds will go toward “much needed” affordable housing, according to the city.

The backstory

The homes in South Pasadena were set to be demolished decades ago to connect I-710 to Interstate 210, as were properties in Pasadena and El Sereno.

In all, Caltrans purchased hundreds of homes to make way for the extension that never got built.

In October 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom officially killed the contentious $6 billion plan when he signed two bills — one by Sen. Anthony Portantino, the other by Assemblymember Chris Holden — into law.

Then-Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek was among local leaders who celebrated the move.

“It is a new day in Pasadena now that the 710 Freeway is history,” he said in a statement. “We can now focus our attention on reknitting this area back into the fabric of the city and addressing local traffic needs.”

El Sereno homes in the news

A similar situation happened in 2020, when unhoused- and housing-insecure families occupied more than a dozen vacant properties owned by Caltrans in the El Sereno neighborhood of Los Angeles. They described it as the “Reclaiming Our Homes” movement, with the group of families writing on social media that "no one should be homeless when homes are empty.

The "reclaimers" cited the COVID-19pandemic — and their desire to comply with the city's Safer at Home orders — as one of their primary reasons for occupying the homes."

Later that year, some were able to move into the properties legally as part of an agreement with the transit agency and city.

About the South Pasadena properties

In February, the South Pasadena City Council approved purchasing six unoccupied properties from Caltrans. And in August, the California Transportation Commission unanimously approved the sale to the city.

City officials described this final step as a “major milestone” in the saga.

The homes included are:

• 216 Fairview Ave.
• 217 Fremont Ave.
• 225 Fremont Ave.
• 726 Meridian Ave.
• 1707 Meridian Ave.

Most of them were built in the 1920s, but the Fremont Avenue properties we built between from 1910 to 1950. The listings promise “timeless elegance,” “ties to the past,” and “endearing qualities.”

Marketing started earlier this week, and offers will be accepted until Oct. 25.

The final sales are expected to be around mid-November.

If you’re interested in any of them, you can find more information through Dave Knight Real Estate, which has collaborated with city officials on the sales.