Old Pasadena is a vibrant district that has overcome years of decline to become the center of high-end loft living, shopping and arts and entertainment. Old Pasadena, officially named Old Pasadena Historic District, is a great example of what can be accomplished through urban renewal.
The neighborhood became blighted in the late 1940s, and it wasn't until the 1980s that an effort to revitalize the area gained some momentum. Though it took decades of work, that effort paid off with a downtown center that is nationally recognized for its revitalization.
Today, condos are becoming an increasingly popular lifestyle choice in Pasadena, and the Old Pasadena area is a great example of that. Developers, seeing the potential for an urban lifestyle as the revitalization progressed, began building apartments and condos within two or three blocks of Colorado Boulevard, resulting in as many as 19 residential buildings within or adjacent to the district.
Old Pasadena: History preserved
Old Pasadena began as the center of an “Athens of the West” that gave rise to Cal Tech, as well as famous and infamous free thinkers, poets and artists. Unfortunately, it couldn't last forever. After decades of decline, it nearly met the wrecking ball in the 1970s. Luckily, in 1979, a growing interest in the city's heritage led to an ordinance that demanded the architecture be preserved.
Those decades of decline were a blessing in disguise for Old Pasadena’s architecture. Because most businesses were moving away from the city center, there was no attempt made to modernize the buildings and as a result, Old Town was eventually designated a historic district.
Living in Old Pasadena
Today, the condos market is heating up in the zip code including Old Pasadena. To read more about those market conditions read my full article "Old Town Pasadena: Urban Living At Its Best." I also recommend you Search for homes in Old Town Pasadena to learn more about what’s available in the market.
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