A new 69-unit apartment complex for previously homeless seniors opened in Pasadena on Wednesday.
Located in a commercial area at the corner of Fair Oaks Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard, Heritage Square South is designed to offer one-bedroom apartments to address the housing crisis and high prices, according to Bridge Housing, the nonprofit developer.
Keith Dickson, who lived his entire life in the San Gabriel Valley and owned a high-end auto repair shop in Pasadena until the COVID-19 pandemic and his own illness forced the closure of his business, was forced to live in his car for two years before moving to Heritage Square South last spring.
“It’s a wonderful apartment,” said 72-year-old Dickson at the opening on Wednesday. “It’s nice and clean, and there are a lot of nice people here. I thank God every day that I have a roof over my head.”
Heritage Square South offers apartments in three three-story buildings connected by pedestrian bridges.
Amenities at Heritage Square South include a leasing office, on-site manager, 24-hour security, laundry rooms, an outdoor courtyard, outdoor lounge areas, two flex rooms and a community room. It also includes 2,200 square feet of commercial space. According to the developer, Heritage Square South is partially powered by renewable energy and is a GreenPoint Platinum-rated affordable multifamily project.
Case management services for residents will be provided by Pasadena-based Union Station Homeless Services. These services include counseling, healthcare assistance, independent living support, on-site activities and more, according to the developer.
“It is not right that many of our neighbors here in Pasadena or elsewhere are struggling to find a roof over their heads, lack local housing options that don’t break their budget, or are just one paycheck away from becoming homeless,” Democratic Rep. Judy Chu of Pasadena said in a statement. “That’s why projects like Heritage Square South are so important, and nearly 70 seniors who were homeless will now have a place to call home here in Pasadena, with access to amenities and vital case management services from Union Station Homeless Services. I will continue to push for solutions to our housing crisis in Congress, working with partners at the federal, state and local levels.”
The complex is adjacent to another Bridge project, Heritage Square, which opened in 2016 with 70 affordable apartments for low-income seniors.
