T
he Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education has made a decision to transform a closed school into residential apartments for their employees. The Roosevelt Elementary building will be converted into 115 units of affordable housing for low or moderate-income households under a new state law known as AB 2295. This law allows for a streamlined approval process for residential development on a school district's property if a majority of units are set aside as affordable housing. The law also bypasses certain local zoning and approval processes, including reviews under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

    The Pasadena Unified board plans to use AB 2295 and a companion law known as SB 35 to speed up the entitlement process, aiming for approval within six months. This decision was made after a survey of Pasadena Unified employees showed a demand for affordable housing in the city. The survey also suggested that subsidized housing could help attract highly qualified teachers and staff to the district.

    The survey found that 70 percent of Pasadena Unified employees spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing, which district officials consider burdensome. On average, employees pay $2,200 a month in rent. The plan approved by the board calls for a range of one- to four-bedroom units, with eligibility limited to district employees only.

    The decision was not unanimous, as Board President Kim Kenne cast the lone vote against the plan.