Historic Places Pasadena: Completing Our Story

The City of Pasadena has been protecting historic resources since 1969 and was one of the first local governments in California to be designated as a Certified Local Government. It has a vast inventory of properties that are listed in the local, state, and national registers and an extensive library of historic context reports prepared over the course of the program's existence. The City has also conducted many historic resources surveys, both geographic and thematic in nature, conducts an annual Historic Preservation Awards program, and has an online database of historic resources and an associated smart phone app, Historic Pasadena.

The City last prepared a Citywide Historic Context Report and conducted a Citywide Historic Resources Survey in 1993. Since that time, targeted studies and surveys have been conducted of each period in the City’s architectural history as well as specific types of historic resources; however, it has been approximately 10 years since a study or survey of historic resources has been conducted. Previously prepared studies and surveys were limited in scope or focused on architecture and building types, but do not provide sufficient identification of properties that may have historical significance based on historical events, development trends, or historically significant people. As a Certified Local Government (CLG) and a community rich with historic resources of many different types, awareness of the types and locations of the City’s historic resources is essential to create a sense of community identity, maintain the City’s status as a CLG and a leader in historic preservation, create a higher level of certainty in the planning process, and ensure proper management of historic resources as required by the Zoning Code and State law.

In 2022, the City Council provided funding to the Planning & Community Development Department to conduct a comprehensive Citywide Historic Resources Survey. In 2023, the City engaged a team of professional consultants to prepare a comprehensive Citywide Historic Context Statement and Historic Resources Survey. The project officially kicked off in July 2023 and is scheduled to be completed in 2025. This website will be updated with additional information as the project progresses.

The City has hired a team of professional consultants including Historic Resources Group (HRG), Architectural Resources Group (ARG), and Teresa Grimes Consulting to complete the Citywide Historic Context Statement and Historic Resources Survey. Cindy Olnick, an independent communications consultant, will work with the City to engage the community throughout the process. All members of the consultant team meet professional qualification standards set forth by the National Park Service (NPS).

In order to understand the historic significance of a given area, it is necessary to examine those resources within the appropriate historic context(s). A historic context statement is a written document that provides the framework for evaluating a property for historic significance and integrity. The purpose of a historic context statement is to place built resources in the appropriate historic, social, and architectural contexts so that the relationship between an area’s physical environment and its broader history can be established. It is not intended to be a comprehensive history. Instead, its purpose is to highlight trends and patterns critical to the understanding of an area’s built environment. This project will synthesize existing studies and historical narratives about the City with new research focused on those aspects of the City’s history that have not been previously documented.  Public outreach will be conducted to assist in identifying those aspects of the City’s history that are significant to the community. The historic context statement will provide an approach to understanding the layers of history in Pasadena, weaving together events and development patterns, social and cultural movements, important people and diverse populations, and architectural influences. The overarching goal is to provide a clear and comprehensive document that tells the story of Pasadena; provides a solid foundation for ongoing historic preservation efforts; and helps guide planning and land use decisions in the City.

A Historic Resources Survey is a planning tool that is used to identify, document, and evaluate places of social, historical, and architectural significance. Data is collected about properties that reflect important themes in a community’s history. Survey findings inform long-range planning efforts and project reviews, support policy goals, and help City officials, property owners and others make informed planning and land use decisions.

More information about Historic Resources Surveys.

A survey begins with research on a property to understand its significance. Field inspections are then completed to identify distinctive architectural features, assess the impact of alterations, and photograph each property. All evaluations are completed from the public right-of-way by qualified professional surveyors working on behalf of the City; the survey team will not enter or otherwise access private property.

The survey will identify individual buildings and structures, objects, and sites. It will also identify groupings of related properties for potential eligibility as historic or landmark districts. The survey will evaluate properties within the City that were constructed through the year 1979 and are not currently designated as historic resources.

Individual resources and districts are evaluated for significance in accordance with criteria established for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, the California Register of Historical Resources, and as City of Pasadena Landmarks or Landmark Districts.

No. Although surveys identify and evaluate resources that may be eligible for designation, no actual designation results directly from survey activity. Designation by the City of Pasadena and nominations for listing in the California or National Registers are separate processes which include property owner notification and public hearings.

You can learn more about the City’s historic preservation program. You can access the City’s Historic Resources Inventory.

Please contact Kevin Johnson (kevinjohnson@cityofpasadena.net), Design & Historic Preservation Section, Pasadena Planning & Community Development Department with any questions about the project.