WPRA acknowledges there is a need for additional housing in Pasadena, especially affordable housing followed by a list of suggestions and support for ongoing policies.
2022_4_6-WPRA-Housing-Element-PoliciesPasadena affordable housing
Pertaining to multi-unit development and state mandated rezoning
WPRA News Winter 2022
2022-A-WPRA-Winter
In this issue
Will SB-9 and Pasadena’s response to it help fix the affordable housing shortage?
President’s Message: We walk the line
City loses baker’s dozen of key personnel; replacement efforts are underway
The Blinn House: a fitting, restored home for Pasadena Heritage
Q&A with Paul Little, president and CEO, Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, and Eric Duyshart, manager, City of Pasadena’s Economic Development
The long and winding road to YWCA rehab and a new hotel?
Anywhere and nowhere
Huntington Hospital community services and support stands out
This drought may never end
Wildlife corridors: critical to biodiversity
San Rafael Annual Fund sets 2022 fund-raising goal and events
Healthy aging embodies enrichment, engagement, empowerment
West Pasadena and the golden age of postcards
Officers
| President | Dan Beal |
| Vice President, Administration | Evan Davis |
| Vice President, Communications | Avram Gold |
| Secretary | Kenyon Harbison |
| Treasurer | Blaine Cavena |
WPRA Letter to the Planning Commission regarding the SB 9 Study Session
WPRA Supports the Interim Development Standards in Response to SB9 (regarding lot splits and duplex construction in RS zones) and endorses the letter submitted by the Linda Vista-Annandale Association.
2021-11-10-WPRA-Letter-SB-9-Study-SessionWPRA News Fall 2021
2021-D-WPRA-Fall
In This Issue
Time to reconcile our drought with the aggressive state-led push for new housing
President’s Message: Time for us to face uncomfortable truths
No consensus on suicide deterrent barriers for bridge
WPRA comments on PDs, revisions to housing elements
Pasadena Heritage postpones Blinn House celebration
Q&A with Chad Augustin, chief, Pasadena Fire Department
A thank-you and a reminder to our members
Lessons learned from controversial ‘Big Dig’
Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy launches butterfly project
City takes step to reduce waste, slow climate change
Zoom: the silver lining of COVID
West Pasadena in three dimensions
Officers
| President | Dan Beal |
| Vice President, Administration | Evan Davis |
| Vice President, Communications | Avram Gold |
| Secretary | Kenyon Harbison |
| Treasurer | Blaine Cavena |
Pasadena Housing Draft Element – WPRA Letter to Council
WPRA’s comments on the July 14, 2021 Draft Housing Element – WPRA considers this draft to be an overall good start to a difficult task, one that provides a platform for further engagement and revision. We list 7 key points of focus & 3 appendixes.
2021-8-2-Pasadena-Housing-Element-WPRA-Ltr-to-CouncilWPRA Letter to Assembly Member Holden opposing SB 10
The West Pasadena Residents’ Association strongly opposes SB 10as an excessive, misguided and fatally flawed attempt to pre-empt local determinations on land use.
2021_7_6-WPRA_Ltr-to-Holden-Oppose-SB-10WPRA News Summer 2021
2021-C-Summer-WPRA-News
In This Issue
2021 WPRA annual meeting tackles housing crisis
Elected officials comment on housing challenges
Experts panel discusses path forward for more affordable housing
WPRA honors Rosa Laveaga for service, dedication
President’s message: Bringing down the house
Remembering Becky Wheeler
Pasadena is preparing welcome mats for middle-income workforce renters
Pasadena Avenue on National Register
California’s housing goals for Pasadena defy logic
WPRA provides feedback on bridge options, SB 9
What went wrong with the Raymond Basin?
Daughter’s death prompts parents to advocate for drowning prevention
It’s time to face facts about preventable drownings
Are you ready to get up and get moving?
A civil (housing) war in the city of homes
Officers
| President | Dan Beal |
| Vice President, Administration | Evan Davis |
| Vice President, Communications | Avram Gold |
| Secretary | Kenyon Harbison |
| Treasurer | Blaine Cavena |
WPRA Letter to State Housing Committee Opposing SB9
SB 9 is not an equity bill. It is the exact opposite. Its emphasis on expensive market rate construction would constitute an unprecedented and destabilizing attack on 7 million California single-family households with 20 million residents—white, Black, Latino and Asian—at all income levels.
6_20_2021-WPRA-Ltr-to-State-Housing-Committee-Opposing-SB9-The 2021 West Pasadena Residents’ Association Annual Meeting
On May 27, 2021, the West Pasadena Residents’ Association held its virtual annual meeting and informational program. This year we took a deep dive into the current topic many people are concerned about: our state’s housing shortage and how it severely affects California’s urban centers.
Two video program versions were placed on YouTube for public viewing.
CLICK HERE for the replay of the entire annual meeting.
CLICK HERE for the housing content only without WPRA’s business segment.
We kicked off our meeting with Dan Beal’s president’s message…
…and then we presented WPRA’s Community Service Awards to Rosa Laveaga, former Arroyo Seco Project Supervisor and to Priscilla Taylor who recently retired from our board after serving 26 years.
WPRA Board Director, Joan Hearst & Rosa Laveaga 
WPRA President Dan Beal & Priscilla Taylor
We elected our 2021 to 2022 Board of Directors and moved on to our discussion topic: The Housing Crisis: How do we build our way out of the housing shortage, and especially affordable housing?
We started our focus on our local planning challenges within Pasadena, expanding the conversation to the LA County area and then widening the analysis even further to state legislation. Moderating was Avram Gold, WPRA Vice President of Communications. WPRA Treasurer, Blaine Cavena handled the webinar engineering as Tech Director.
Avram Gold, Moderator 
Blaine Cavena, Tech Director
Our lineup of introductory speakers were:
Pasadena Mayor, Victor Gordo
Pasadena District 6 Councilmember, Steve Madison
LA County Supervisor, Kathryn Barger
and our State’s District 41, Assembly member Chris Holden
Mayor Victor Gordo 
Council member Steve Madison 
LA County Supervisor,
Cathryn Barger
State Assembly member,
Chris Holden
We then followed these four reports with a panel discussion. Our special guest panelists were:
Our District 25 State Senator, Anthony Portantino
Pasadena’s Director of Planning and Community Development, David Reyes
Executive Director of nonprofit Heritage Housing Partners, Charles Loveman. Jr.
and nonprofit Abode Communities President & CEO, Robin Hughes.
Senator Anthony Portantino 
Pasadena Planning Director,
David Reyes
Non-profit developer,
Robin Hughes
Non-profit developer,
Charles Loveman
Topics discussed were: more production vs the reach for more land, the lack of current state funding and existing county subsidies, the struggle to finance affordable housing, state vs local control, gentrification, communication breakdowns in Sacramento, developer influence and lobbying, and ending with the question: Will there really be a reduced demand for cars in the future?
WPRA News Spring 2021
2021-B-Spring-WPRA-News
In This Issue
2021 WPRA annual meeting: Can Pasadena increase affordable housing without losing identity, self-determination?
President’s comments: The worst laid plans …
What do we spend your membership/donations on?
Q&A: with Ken McCormick, CEO, Mill Creek Development
New design unveiled for mixed-use Castle Green project
Women’s City Club transfers Blinn House to Pasadena Heritage
A thank-you to our members and a reminder! Donor listing
One Arroyo launches trail demonstration projects
How Everett House came to be home for The Shakespeare Club
Colorado Street Bridge mockups now installed for public viewing
Juliette’s adventures at the Pasadena Senior Center
Advertising Pasadena early in 20th Century
Officers
| President | Dan Beal |
| Vice President, Administration | Evan Davis |
| Vice President, Communications | Avram Gold |
| Secretary | Kenyon Harbison |
| Treasurer | Blaine Cavena |
