Pasadena Unified Plans Employee Housing at Old School

The school district seeks to build 110 rental homes at the former Roosevelt Elementary School site.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Apartments

Bold vector editorial illustration of modern townhomes and a stylized oak tree, representing community housing development in Pasadena. — Pasadena Unified School District has proposed building 110 rental units at the former Roosevelt Elementary site to help staff afford local housing. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should your local school district build dedicated housing to help recruit and retain its employees?

Pasadena Unified School District has filed a design review application to develop 110 below-market rental apartments and townhomes at the former Roosevelt Elementary School site. The project aims to improve employee recruitment and retention in the local area.

Why it matters

The development is designed to address the challenges of attracting and retaining school district staff within a high-cost local housing market. It seeks to provide more accessible living options for employees near their place of work.

The plan for the 5-acre site includes 110 rental units with two parking spaces assigned to each home. Eligibility is capped at 120 percent of the area median income, with 30 percent of the total inventory set aside for low-income households.

The players

Pasadena Unified School District

The public education agency overseeing schools and employee housing initiatives in the city.

Pasadena Design Commission

A city body responsible for reviewing the architectural and design merits of new development projects.

The details

The development will utilize the former Roosevelt Elementary School location at 315 N. Pasadena Ave., which has been closed since 2020. City staff are currently reviewing the application before it proceeds to a formal Consolidated Design Review with the local Design Commission.

Roosevelt Elementary School closed in 2020.
The Design Commission held a preliminary consultation on August 11, 2026.
The district held a community open house on September 22, 2026.
PUSD issued a facilities bond newsletter on October 29, 2026.
A draft traffic analysis is expected in late November 2026.

Culture Shift

This project follows the pattern set by the nationwide movement of school districts developing workforce housing to address teacher retention. It reflects a growing trend of public agencies repurposing underutilized school properties to provide residential support for local essential workers.

Residents living near the former school site should anticipate potential updates to neighborhood traffic patterns as a result of the ongoing transportation study. The district plans to use the primary entrance on Pasadena Avenue while Rosemont Avenue will serve as secondary access.

The takeaway

Providing dedicated workforce housing can serve as a long-term strategy for districts struggling to keep staff in expensive urban centers. Nearby residents and potential applicants should monitor the upcoming traffic analysis and design review meetings for further project developments.