Transit-oriented development: What it costs (Part II)

In case you missed it, I wrote earlier today on the blog that I'm going to begin a series of posts on how much it costs to live in the various transit-oriented developments that have been built or are under construction in the Southland.

First up is the Stuart at Sierra Madre Villa, a 188-unit apartment complex at the corner of Foothill and Madre in Pasadena. It sits next to the parking garage for the Gold Line terminus, with the 210 Freeway and the light rail line on the opposite side of the garage.

Cost: The cheapest apartment rents $1,835 for a 585-square-foot junior one-bedroom, one-bath that is called "the Huntington." A one-bedroom, one-bath runs from $1,995 to $2,095, with sizes between 623 and 792 square feet. The least expensive two-bedroom unit rents for $2,440 and the priciest unit -- called "the Fair Oaks" goes for $3,350 a month and includes a loft. It covers 1,205 square feet. No units were set aside for low-income earners.

Parking: There's one free space per unit and lessees can rent another for $75 per month.

Getting to the train: Tenants have to take the elevator in the Gold Line garage to the bridge that spans the westbound 210 to reach the station in the middle of the freeway.

Is it a nice train station?: When you board a train that's waiting to leave the station, the driver will often close the doors to hold down on the horrendous noise from the freeway.

Will Pearl Jam on an iPod with the volume cranked all the way up drown out the noise?: Almost, but not quite.

Background on the project: The apartments were built on space once occupied by Stuart Pharmaceuticals. The MTA later bought the property to build the Gold Line and entered into a deal to allow a developer known as BRE to build the project.

Other features: The main Stuart Pharmaceutical building, erected in 1958, was preserved and houses a lounge, gym and public gathering area. The building also has an outdoor pool and jacuzzi. Celia Callejas, a leasing specialist, showed me a two-bedroom, two-bath unit and it was nicely decorated, with a walk-in closet that Ms. Road Sage would have liked. The open kitchen was nice, if a little small.

Random tidbits: Callejas said that by her estimation about 10% to 15% of the building's residents were taking the train to work. She guesstimated that roughly half the residents use the train on a regular basis. She said that the primary motivation for many tenants was to find a good deal -- the Stuart, like other properties in the area, offers free-rent deals. "A lot of people are hopping from building to building looking for specials," she said.

Can you walk anywhere?: Foothill Boulevard is not what I would call a pedestrian dreamscape, but I found a surprising number of businesses can easily be reached. An auto-oriented shopping plaza across the street has a Best Buy, Chipotle, Old Navy, Petsmart and Ross Dress for Less and is fronted by a giant Starbucks. A five-minute stroll east on Foothill brings you to another auto-oriented shopping plaza that includes a Ralphs, Jamba Juice and Radio Shack.

Freeway access: Super-easy with ramps to the 210 on Madre Street.

-- Steve Hymon

Photo credit: Steve Hymon / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[El Gato Malo]

I second what Dan said. I thought this was going to be the whole point of the article: How does the cost of living in TOD compare to the cost of similar, non-TOD housing? Has Pasadena in general gotten this expensive?

[forgotten citizen]

I agree with Brian C. Brook that it is misleading to expect the people who buy or rent there not to use their cars. Howeverd, for ppl who want to live in SF or New York, when renting or buying exp housing, at least for some ppl, they have choice not to own the cars and save expense. After paying expensive rent, what is left for the middle. Then ppl have to pay the car expense, so on. I was in DC couple times. Public transit is not as good as New York, but it is paradisce compare with LA. There are expensive apt just around transit center. In Crystal city station, the apartment is just above the crystal city station and hundred of shopping including Safeway super market. In pasadena, El Paseo is expensive which is sits on top of shopping centers which there is not much in that shopping center anyway. Yes, it is walking distance (at least to me) to old town and goldline, but it is not convenient to go anywhere. Yes, our ttransit still does not go anywhere. I know real estate developer like to develope exp housing along the train station to make more profit. That is human nature. Pleae, don't call that TOD. The apt is not that close to transit. PPl have to drive to work. Our transit goes nowhere. Worst thing, it remove the affordable apartment. I used to rent the apartment between 98 and 2000. it is one bedroom apt at El Molino (south of 210). The rent was 680. Some people rent 800 or 900. Those are old apartments but comfortable. I am pretty sure the rent has go up significantly but not that expeensive. Every time, i come to Pasadena, I see many old building got removed to build new apartment. The so call "TOD" will not encourage people take to transit to jack up the rent and remove all the affordable apartment in the area. It will not be surprise if one day my old 680 (could be 1200 by this time) apartment got removed and replaced with 2400 room apartment building

[MJ]

There's been a lot of focus on TOD projects. In theory tenants should use their cars far less and a high percentage of them would be taking transit to work. However, focusing only on TOD forgets the other half of the equation, TOJ...Transit Oriented Jobs. If your job isn't near transit, why would you take transit to work?

[Celia D. Callejas]

I just wanted to add; before comments are made, like it took us a year to gather a few tenants....this is incorrect. We are at full capacity and compared to other cmparable buildings, it only took us one year to lease up the place, which is amazing and just so you know; we are off "The Old Town" strip, so I would like to thank our awesome staff for doing an outstanding job against all odds. The Stuart is a great place to live, and all of our residents should be proud of where they live, because we take great pride in serving them.

Thanks!

[fezco]

Hey Steve. Didn't the LAT do an article a while back about transit housing and how almost nobody actually took the train? Something like just one person at the whole Del Mar station actually lived in that transit center. I work across the street from 'the stuart,' and although they did a good job preserving the historic stuart pharmaceutical's architecture, the joint is still horribly over priced. It has taken them a year just to get a few occupants. In addition, the city has allowed another 200+ apartments to be built next door. That is 300+ apartments in one big block! The intersections of Madre/Foothill and Rosemead/Foothill are already jammed with commuters and with a new Kaiser Permanente medical center opening up too, it is going to be a real mess. I guess this is the City of Pasadena's big plan to make Pasadena look like Reseda.

[Brian C. Brooks]

While I am not opposed to Transit Oriented Development, TOD, I think it is misleading to expect the people who buy or rent there not to use their cars.

I have been told that a survey of occupants of older TOD along the red line revealed that only 10% of them EVER rode the subway and almost all of them commuted by car. The MTA should have the survey if it exists. If it does not, their assumptions remain unsupported.

Why not a complete regional system at much less cost? Of course I am still advocating monorail which I believe can carry more people at 1/4th the cost of Light Rail and
1/10th the cost of Subway. And the people who live in the TOD will have peace and quiet instead of the noise of steel on steel and the warning horns at street crossings.

At Your service, Brian C. Brooks

[mike d.]

I can't believe people will actually pay those prices in Pasadena! That's easily as expensive as nice parts of the Westside.

[forgotten citizen]

being a person who cannot drive, I will not rent it (unless that is the only one available in the surrounding area). it is too pricy. I don't know how many middle class can afford the apartment there. After gold line was build, i was so temp to buy or rent the apartment in Pasadena. i gave up. I used to live in Pasadena (closer to my last job). it was not fancy one, that is also within walking distance. correct me if I am wrong, I think those apartments are for ppl with 6 figure salary. It is interest to know if those ppl are willing to give up cars. Many of them work in different area (many donot have buses at all). The problem is renting is ppl can not give up the car (to save the insurance, gasoline, car maintenace, etc) if they live in those partment. They still have to drive. How many jobs are close to Expo/goldline/red line (I mean a good freq connector bus or 30 to 60 min walking distance to transit), The answer is not many. Looks like those apartments are for ppl who want to live in lux style but not for transit purpose. If gold line extension does get build, i expect samething is happening, many unaffordable apartments along the goldline extension that the only ppl who can afford are not willing to take bus/subway

[Dan]

You forgot a key point: what percentage of the apartments are rented? I'd be interested to see what you find out as you research these places.... are they actually popular enough to fill up?

Another thing: how does the price compare to apartment buildings of similar quality that are not adjacent to transit? Are people willing to pay extra to live next to it?