Workforce Housing

PUSD is developing workforce housing to help more of our dedicated employees live in the communities where they teach, support, and care for our students.

Creates high-quality, affordable housing for PUSD educators and classified employees
Provides urgently needed housing for PUSD employees and their families. More than 120 PUSD employees lost their homes in the Eaton Fire.
Provides housing for families, supporting enrollment in PUSD.
Revenue from the project supports the maintenance and repair of school facilities.

Roosevelt Workforce Housing Project

About the Project

aerial view of the workforce housing site

5-acre site (formerly Roosevelt Elementary School, which closed in 2020)
110 rental units for PUSD employees
100% below-market-rate (50% lower income)

Apartments and Townhome units:

31% One Bedroom
44% Two Bedrooms
19% Three Bedrooms
6% Four Bedrooms

Amenities include:

Community building
Landscaped Commons & Playground

Apartment Elevation

Townhome Elevations

The Process & Opportunities for Public Input

12/16/2021 Board Meeting – Board Presentation on Recommendation from the Facilities Task Force to develop Workforce Housing at the Roosevelt site
6/8/2023 Board Meeting – Board Presentation and Discussion, Workforce Housing Feasibility
2/29/2024 Board Meeting – Board Presentation on Financing Options
3/28/2024 Board Meeting – Board Approved BR- 1729-F, Initiation of Workforce Housing
4/29/2024 Joint City Meeting – Workforce Housing Presentation
5/9/2024 Board Meeting – Board Presentation – Review Entitlement process Options and Next Steps at Board of Education Special Meeting
5/15/2024 to Present – PUSD Superintendent's Advisory Group Meetings on Workforce Housing
8/29/2024 Board Meeting – Board Presentation, Advisory Group recommendations on unit mix, design concept, and entitlement pathway

Integrating Feedback

PUSD meets regularly with City of Pasadena staff, including Planning, Public Works, and Fire to review preliminary plans. A Superintendent’s Advisory Group was convened to study the unit mix and confirm the SB 35 pathway. PUSD has held meetings with neighbors to review the proposed site plan and receive feedback. These meetings are ongoing. The feedback resulted in key changes to the prior plan.

Entitlement Process

The Project makes use of multiple housing streamlining assembly and senate bills in order to deliver units faster and at a lower cost to PUSD. AB 2295: Enables PUSD to develop housing per City standards without having to first go through a rezoning process. SB 35: Allows the project to be exempt from CEQA, subject to meeting certain criteria. The entitlement process under AB 2295 + SB 35, which PUSD is pursuing, still involves review/approval, as well as extensive communication and collaboration between PUSD and the City of Pasadena.
The proposed 110-unit Project also contributes to meeting the City’s housing mandate (over 9,000 units) as required by the State.
PUSD meets regularly with City of Pasadena staff, including Planning, Public Works, and Fire to review preliminary plans. A Superintendent’s Advisory Group was convened to study the unit mix and confirm the SB 35 pathway. PUSD has held meetings with neighbors to review the proposed site plan and receive feedback. These meetings are ongoing.

Key Changes from Prior Plan

Changes made after feedback and collaboration with the City of Pasadena

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