Pasadena is moving into the next critical phase of the long-running effort to address the 710 freeway stub, aiming for community healing and physical reconnection. Consultants and the Reconnecting Communities 710 Advisory Group recently presented their comprehensive visions to the Pasadena City Council.

A Legacy of Displacement and the Call for Justice

The 710 stub represents a 50-acre scar that divides Pasadena, stemming from a Caltrans expansion project never fully realized. Between the 1950s and 1970s, Caltrans seized hundreds of properties, displacing thousands of residents, disproportionately affecting communities of color.

Ed Riddle, who watched a bulldozer demolish his high school home as part of the expansion, shared his powerful testimony during the Monday, March 30, 2026, City Council meeting. He emphasized the generational impact of the project, stating, “The ball’s in your court now, so you guys got to get it right.”

Honoring Impacted Families

The advisory group stressed the need to honor those harmed by the discriminatory and exploitative freeway construction, which Caltrans officially shelved in 2018. Allegra Consulting’s Suzanne Madison noted the hope that city leadership would “do the right thing to honor the families who were displaced and impacted by the SR-710 freeway.”

Councilmember Rick Cole pointed to an ongoing insult: “To this day, when you leave Long Beach the 710 signs say Pasadena,” highlighting the need for Caltrans to acknowledge the community's history.

Advisory Group Recommendations Take Center Stage

The City Council-created Reconnecting Communities 710 Advisory Group delivered a report containing dozens of recommendations covering land use, mobility, and restorative justice. Tina Williams, chair of the Restorative Justice Standing Committee, framed the freeway's path as part of a “broader design of coordinated systems of oppression.”

Williams highlighted a key proposal: establishing a Restorative Justice Community Oversight Committee to monitor the project’s progression. She stressed that the discriminatory tools used involved the partial construction of the 710 and the building of the 210 freeways.

Land Use and Housing Priorities

Wayne Brandt, chair of the Land Use and Mobility Standing Committee, detailed the group’s vision for the 50-acre area. The recommendation calls for 60% housing and 40% dedicated to open and commercial space.

Crucially, the group urged that housing development be the project’s initial phase. They specifically recommended that 30% of the more than 1,000 proposed housing units be designated as affordable housing.

Consultant Vision and Next Steps

Architectural firm Perkins Eastman presented its vision plan, summarizing its nearly 200-page report covering context, restorative justice, physical reconnection, and implementation strategies. Consultants Kate Howe and Vaughan Davies showcased potential traffic designs aimed at reducing flow in the stub area.

City Planning Director Jennifer Paige confirmed that officials will now begin the process of translating this visioning work into actionable plans. Pasadena recently sold 13 of the 17 homes originally seized by Caltrans earlier this year.

Public Input and Council Deliberation

During public comment on Monday, March 30, twelve speakers urged the council to prioritize restorative justice and compensate those robbed of generational wealth. Concerns were also raised regarding traffic impacts and the necessity of affordable housing.

Councilmembers deferred substantive debate until the next scheduled meeting on Monday, April 13. Mayor Victor Gordo expressed interest in infrastructure financing and traffic impacts, while also noting concerns about state housing law SB 79.

Councilmember Steve Madison cautioned against delay, warning against complacency. “I think we do need to do something today,” he stated, urging the city to maintain momentum on this vital reconnection effort.