The Mills Act is a California state law that allows cities to enter into contracts with the owners of historic structures. Such contracts require a reduction of property taxes in exchange for the continued preservation of the property.
57-544: The Mills Act is recognized by the state of California as the "single most important economic development incentive program in California for the restoration and preservation of qualified historic buildings by private property owners. Each local government establishes their own criteria and determines how many contracts they will allow in their jurisdiction. For example, the City of Pasadena Historic Property Contract Program
114-557: A Spanish soldier who had served with the 1769 Portola-Serra Expedition, received a provisional eight square league grant of the Rancho San Rafael in 1784, from his army commander Governor Pedro Fages , which was confirmed in 1798 by Governor Diego de Borica . In 1798 Verdugo retired from the army to become a full-time rancher. Verdugo died in 1831 and he left his property to his surviving son Julio Antonio Verdugo (1789–1876) and daughter María Catalina Verdugo (1799–1837). With
171-486: A Sunday). The first parade was held in 1890 and was originally sponsored by the Valley Hunt Club , a Pasadena social club . The motivation for having the parade was, as member Professor Charles F. Holder said, "In New York, people are buried in snow. Here our flowers are blooming and our oranges are about to bear. Let's hold a festival to tell the world about our paradise." By 1895, the festivities had outgrown
228-630: A boon to Pasadena as Southern California became a major staging area for the Pacific War . High tech manufacturing and scientific companies made the city their home, a trend which continued in the decades following the war, notably with NASA 's Jet Propulsion Laboratory , Tetra Tech and Ameron International. In the 1950s, Pasadena saw a steady influx of people from the Southern United States , especially African-Americans from Texas and Louisiana . Pasadena also began hosting
285-643: A decade. A year later, the 210 Freeway was built along a newly chosen route. The freeway's construction was controversial, as it caused the demolition of over a thousand homes, many historic, and many claimed that the route was designed to cut off the city's less wealthy neighborhoods. Downtown Pasadena became dangerous in some parts and deserted in others, and incidences of murder and arson skyrocketed. Old Pasadena faced destruction as plans for new high-rise developments were drawn up, though they were mostly stopped by increasingly active preservation advocates. Pasadena suffered demographically as many residents moved for
342-402: A female householder with no husband present, 2,460 (4.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 3,016 (5.5%) unmarried partnerships . 18,838 households (34.1%) were made up of individuals, and 5,748 (10.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42. There were 30,876 families (55.9% of all households); the average family size
399-524: A float, going through the parade together with the line of parades. The Rose Courts also represent their own local communities and their high school that they attend. The Rose Bowl , a National Historic Landmark , is host of the first and most famous college football postseason bowl game , the Tournament of Roses Rose Bowl Game, every New Year's Day. In 1895, the Tournament of Roses Association
456-485: A gesture of good will, Wilson added 2,000 acres (8 km ) of then-useless highland property, part of which would become Altadena . Colonel Jabez Banbury opened the first school on South Orange Grove Avenue. Banbury had twin daughters, named Jennie and Jessie. The two became the first students to attend Pasadena's first school on Orange Grove. At the time, the Indiana Colony was a narrow strip of land between
513-456: A large immigrant community, particularly from China , Japan , Philippines , Mexico , Guatemala , El Salvador , Italy , Armenia , and India . The American Academy of Dramatic Arts , founded in 1884 in New York, opened its Pasadena campus in 1974. However, in 2001 the conservatory moved from Pasadena to Hollywood. Training actors for the stage in a two year program, the conservatory
570-479: A real estate boom. Tourist hotels were developed in the city. Pasadena became a winter resort for wealthy Easterners, spurring the development of new neighborhoods and business districts, and increased road and transit connections with Los Angeles. In 1940, when the Arroyo Seco Parkway , California's first freeway, connected Pad. By that time, Pasadena had become the eighth-largest city in California and
627-463: A wide variety of restaurants, nightclubs, outdoor cafés, pubs, and comedy clubs. "One Colorado" features renovated historic architecture that attracted the new retail stores and restaurants. This development filled vacant buildings and was the impetus of the revitalization of Old Town on Colorado Boulevard . Paseo Colorado is an open-air mall that covers three city blocks, anchored on the west end by upscale grocery store Gelson's (recently closed), on
SECTION 10
#1732787618510684-914: A year at the Ambassador Auditorium and the Pasadena Pops plays at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden . The Civic Center also holds a few traveling Broadway shows each year. Rancho San Rafael Rancho San Rafael was a 36,403-acre (147.32 km ) Spanish land grant in the San Rafael Hills , bordering the Los Angeles River and the Arroyo Seco in present-day Los Angeles County , southern California , given in 1784 to Jose Maria Verdugo . The rancho includes
741-635: Is a city in Los Angeles County, California , United States, 11 miles (18 km) northeast of downtown Los Angeles . It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley . Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial district. Its population was 138,699 at the 2020 census , making it the 45th largest city in California and the ninth-largest city in Los Angeles County. Pasadena
798-514: Is a large swap meet that involves thousands of dealers and tens of thousands of visitors in and around the grounds of the Rose Bowl. The merchandise on display ranges from old world antiques to California pottery to vintage clothing. The flea market has been held every second Sunday of the month since 1967. According to the City's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in
855-689: Is bounded by the Raymond Fault line, the San Rafael Hills , and the San Gabriel Mountains . The Arroyo Seco , a major geographic feature and home of the Rose Bowl, flows from headwaters in Pasadena's towering Angeles National Forest greenbelt in the San Gabriel Mountains . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.1 square miles (60 km ), over 99% of it land; 0.68%
912-414: Is typically sparse, but the marine layer becomes more persistent. Locals have dubbed June " June Gloom " as it is the cloudiest month despite being the 3rd driest month. By July, the marine layer subsides as inland areas cool due to an increased monsoon flow. Heatwaves from July through October can be oppressive and lengthy. In addition, it rarely rains during the summer and fall months, and only does when
969-663: Is water. Pasadena has a Mediterranean climate ( Köppen Csa ), with typically hotter summers and slightly cooler winters than nearby coastal areas. Its location relative to the San Gabriel mountains allows the orographic lift to add several more inches of rainfall per year than nearby areas. During the first few months of the year, Pasadena experiences cool to warm highs, typically in the upper 60s (16–18 °C) to lower 70s (21–24 °C). Colder days are usually accompanied by heavier rain. By April, temperatures warm further, and rain tapers off significantly. By May and June, rain
1026-487: Is well represented in Pasadena. The architectural firm Greene and Greene developed the style; many of its residences still stand. Two examples of their Ultimate bungalow are the masterpiece Gamble House , of which public tours are available, and the Robert R. Blacker House , both designated California Historical Landmarks and enrolled on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places . The Second World War proved to be
1083-718: The Los Angeles Basin for thousands of years. Pasadena means "valley" in the language of the Ojibwe , a Native American tribe not local to the region. The name was chosen by American colonists from Indiana who would later move to the area. The Spanish first colonized the Los Angeles Basin in the 1770s as part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain , building the San Gabriel Mission and renaming
1140-935: The Planetary Society , the Pasadena Playhouse , the Ambassador Auditorium , the Norton Simon Museum , and the USC Pacific Asia Museum . The earliest known inhabitants of Pasadena and its surroundings were members of the Native American Hahamog-na tribe, a branch of the Tongva Nation. They spoke the Tongva language , part of the Uto-Aztecan language group. Native Americans had lived in
1197-603: The Verdugo Mountains on the west, the Crescenta Valley and Rancho La Cañada on the north, the Arroyo Seco on the east, and the Los Angeles River on the south. The boundary followed north along the northeast bank of the L.A. River, and then wrapped westerly around present day Griffith Park to a point near the Travel Town Museum there. Corporal José María Verdugo (1751–1831),
SECTION 20
#17327876185101254-817: The cession of California to the United States following the Mexican–American War , the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo provided that the land grants would be honored. As required by the Land Act of 1851, a claim was filed with the Public Land Commission in 1852, confirmed by the Commission in 1855, and the grant was patented to Julio and Catalina Verdugo in 1882. In 1857, Jonathan R. Scott traded Rancho La Cañada to Julio and Catalina Verdugo for 4,607 acres (19 km ) acres on
1311-624: The Arroyo Seco and Fair Oaks Avenue . On the other side of the street was Wilson's Lake Vineyard development. After more than a decade of parallel development on both sides, the two settlements merged into the City of Pasadena. The region drew people from across the country. In 1887, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway opened its Second District and began making stops at the Santa Fe Depot in downtown Pasadena. This triggered
1368-463: The Arroyo Seco area. The new stadium hosted its first New Year's Day football game in 1923. It was soon christened "The Rose Bowl", as was the game itself . The Rose Bowl , also holds annual Fourth of July events in its stadium. Since fireworks are illegal in Los Angeles County. Due to fireworks being banned or illegal, people gather together at the Rose Bowl to watch the night sky light up with colorful fireworks. The legendary Pasadena Playhouse ,
1425-668: The Mexican owners of Rancho del Rincon de San Pascual was Manuel Garfias , who retained title to the property through the American conquest of California in 1848 and statehood in 1850. Garfias sold sections of the property to the first Anglo settlers to come into the area: Dr. Benjamin Eaton , the father of Fred Eaton ; and Dr. S. Griffin. Much of the property was purchased by Benjamin Wilson , who established his Lake Vineyard property in
1482-672: The Rose Court. There are total 7 candidates that advances to the Rose Court and one is chosen to be the Rose Queen and the others to be the Rose Princess. The Rose Court's main goal is to support local communities and local stores. They visit small stores owned by local residents to boost the activity of the area and to keep them in the current flow of the economics. During the Rose Parade, the Rose Court members are also on
1539-565: The Santa Ana winds. The Santa Ana winds can produce heat, high winds, power outages, tree damage and an increased wildfire threat whenever they strike. By December, lows typically drop into the 40s (below 10 °C) with the occasional reading in the 30s (under 5 °C and down to freezing). Highs remain around 68 °F (20 °C) with heatwaves pushing temperatures into the mid-80s (around 30 °C). A high temperature of at least 85 °F (29 °C) has been recorded on all 365 days of
1596-621: The State Theater of California, is a member supported theater company that celebrated their centennial season in 2018. The theater puts on five shows a year. In 1937, the Pasadena Playhouse established a record as the only theatre in the United States to have staged the entire Shakespearean canon. Today, the Playhouse is known for their innovative productions. The Pasadena Symphony , founded in 1928, offers several concerts
1653-523: The Valley Hunt Club, and the Tournament of Roses Association was formed to take charge of the parade. The Rose Parade, as it is familiarly known, traditionally features elaborate floats, bands and equestrian units. According to the organizers, "Every inch of every float must be covered with flowers, or other natural materials, such as leaves, seeds, or bark. On average a float requires about 100,000 flowers and greenery. Volunteer workers swarm over
1710-543: The best view along the parade route. The Rose Parade is satirized by the popular Doo Dah Parade , an annual event that originated in Old Pasadena in 1978, and soon gained national notoriety. Reader's Digest named the Doo Dah Parade "America's Best Parade", and was a recent feature in 50 Places You Must Visit Before You Die! . It was formerly held around Thanksgiving, a month before the Rose Parade, but
1767-410: The city are: Other companies based in Pasadena include Idealab , Inter-Con Security , Green Dot Corporation , Tetra Tech , Wesco Financial , OpenX , Stark Spirits Distillery, and Wetzel's Pretzels . The Los Angeles office of China Eastern Airlines is also located in Pasadena. Pasadena is home to the Tournament of Roses Parade, held each year on January 1 (or on January 2, if the 1st falls on
Mills Act - Misplaced Pages Continue
1824-656: The city is located just north-west of the townhall on the other side of Garfield Avenue. The 2010 United States Census reported that Pasadena had a population of 137,122. The population density was 5,928.8 inhabitants per square mile (2,289.1/km ). The racial makeup of Pasadena was 76,550 (55.8%) White , 14,650 (10.7%) African American , down from 19.0% in 1990, 827 (0.6%) Native American , 19,595 (14.3%) Asian , 134 (0.1%) Pacific Islander , 18,675 (13.6%) from other races , and 6,691 (4.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race numbered 46,174 persons (33.7%). Non-Hispanic White residents were 38.8% of
1881-614: The early 1900s and was demolished in 1934. The world-famous Mount Lowe Railway and associated mountain hotels shut down four years later due to fire damage. Three hotel structures have survived, the Green Hotel (a co-op since 1926), the Vista Del Arroyo (now used as a Federal courthouse), and a residential tower of the Maryland at 80 North Euclid Avenue (a co-op since 1953). The American Craftsman era in art and design
1938-543: The east end by Macy's (also closed) and Arclight Cinemas centers the middle portion of the mall. Another shopping district is located in the South Lake Avenue neighborhood. On Lake Avenue, a Macy's department store and furniture gallery is in a registered California historical landmark. The building was originally designed and built as the fourth Bullock's department store in the mid-1950s (the last freestanding store they constructed). The Rose Bowl Flea Market
1995-635: The eastern Pacific and dry years with La Niña cold water conditions. The most rainfall in one month was 19.70 inches (500.4 mm) in February 1980. The most rainfall in 24 hours was 7.70 inches (195.6 mm) on March 2, 1938. Situated at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, snow is known to fall occasionally in Pasadena. The heaviest snowfall in Pasadena history occurred on January 11, 1949; 8 inches (20.3 cm) fell at Pasadena's city hall and more than 14 inches (35.6 cm) fell in
2052-548: The find a secret, Berry code-named the area "Muscat" after the grape that Wilson grew. To raise funds to bring the company of people to San Pascual, Berry formed the Southern California Orange and Citrus Growers Association and sold stock in it. The newcomers were able to purchase a large portion of the property along the Arroyo Seco and on January 31, 1874, they incorporated the Indiana Colony . As
2109-399: The floats in the days after Christmas, their hands and clothes covered with glue and petals." The most perishable flowers are placed in small vials of water, which are placed onto the float individually. Over the almost 3 hours of the parade, floats, and participants travel over five miles (8.0 km) and pass by over one million viewers who traditionally camp out over New Year's Eve to have
2166-413: The foothills above the city. The most recent snowfall in Pasadena was 1 inch (2.5 cm) on February 21, 2019. On November 30 and December 1, 2011, Pasadena, along with surrounding communities, was struck by a major windstorm caused by Santa Ana winds. The city suffered heavy damage with trees toppled, buildings damaged and even the roof of a gas station torn off. The official NOAA weather station for
2223-481: The local Tongva people "Gabrielino Indians", after the name of the mission. Today, several bands of Tongva people live in the Los Angeles area. In 1821, Mexico became independent of Spain, and California came under control of the Mexican government. In 1833, the mission lands were secularized and most of the lands in California were granted to private Mexican citizens in the form of ranchos. Present-day Pasadena
2280-579: The nearby suburbs or the Inland Empire , causing an overall decrease in population. Despite these setbacks, many local artists and hipsters moved in to take advantage of low property values. Their legacy can be seen today in the Doo Dah Parade which began in 1976. In 2014, several arrests were made involving an embezzlement scheme which stole an estimated $ 6.4 million from the city's Underground Utility Program. The greater Pasadena area
2337-675: The parade is now held in January. In 2011, after 33 years in Pasadena, the parade moved to East Pasadena for the first time. It features unusual and absurd entrants such as the BBQ & Hibachi Marching Grill Team, the Men of Leisure, and the Bastard Sons of Lee Marvin. Proceeds from the parade's pancake breakfast, T-shirts, and after-party are donated to charity. The Tournament of Roses also auditions local female high school students to be part of
Mills Act - Misplaced Pages Continue
2394-498: The population living below the federal poverty line. For people ages 25 and over, 88.3% had a high school degree or higher while 52.3% had a Bachelor's degree or higher. According to Mapping L.A. , Mexican and English were the most common ethnic ancestries cited by residents in 2000. Mexico and the Philippines were the most common foreign places of birth. Old Town Pasadena spans 21 blocks downtown. It boasts shops and
2451-414: The population, down from 70.4% in 1970. The Census reported that 133,629 people (97.5% of the population) lived in households, 2,472 (1.8%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 1,021 (0.7%) were institutionalized. There were 55,270 households, out of which 14,459 (26.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 22,285 (40.3%) were married couples living together, 6,131 (11.1%) had
2508-493: The present day cities of Burbank , Glendale , La Cañada Flintridge , the Glendale communities of Montrose and Verdugo City ; as well as the city of Los Angeles neighborhoods of Atwater Village , Cypress Park , Eagle Rock , Garvanza , Glassell Park , Highland Park , and Mount Washington . and the portion of the city of Pasadena located west of the Arroyo Seco . The rancho's boundaries were primarily defined by
2565-406: The rancho. In 1871, law partners Alfred Chapman and Andrew Glassell filed a lawsuit, known as "The Great Partition", against thirty-six separate defendants. The plaintiffs contended that there were numerous alleged property owners occupying tracts of land whose boundaries were illegally established. Once the validity of the claims were proven, a partition was demanded. Ultimately, Rancho San Rafael
2622-535: The remnants of hurricanes and tropical storms pass by. In fact, some days in both July and August have never recorded rainfall. It is not impossible to go 6 months without measurable precipitation. The average highest temperature recorded each year is around 106 °F (41 °C). The hottest heatwaves of the year usually occur in mid to late September. By late October, temperatures drop off. By November, Pacific storms return to Pasadena, bringing increasingly heavy rain and cooler weather. Along with them, however, are
2679-625: The vicinity. Wilson, known as Don Benito to the local Indians, also owned the Rancho Jurupa ( Riverside, California ) and was mayor of Los Angeles . He was the grandfather of WWII General George S. Patton, Jr. and the namesake of Mount Wilson . In 1873, Wilson was visited by Dr. Daniel M. Berry of Indiana, who was looking for a place in the country that could offer a mild climate for his patients, most of whom suffered from respiratory ailments. Berry, an asthmatic, concluded that he had his best three nights' sleep at Rancho San Pascual. To keep
2736-522: The west side of Rancho San Rafael - what is today Burbank . In 1861 Julio and Catalina Verdugo split the rancho between southern (Julio) and northern (Catalina) portions. In 1861, Julio Verdugo mortgaged a substantial portion of the Rancho to Jacob Elias under terms that he could not afford. By the late 1860s, several parcels of Rancho San Rafael had been either sold, or lost due to foreclosures. Many individuals were claiming ownership to multiple sections of
2793-530: The year, with temperatures over 100 °F (38 °C) possible April through early November. Pasadena averages 20.08 inches (510.0 mm) of rain a year, about 6 inches (150 mm) more than nearby Los Angeles due to the orographic effect created by the San Gabriel Mountains . The wettest "rain year" was from July 1940 to June 1941 with 46.32 inches (1,176.5 mm) and the driest from July 1960 to June 1961 with 7.18 inches (182.4 mm). Wet years are commonly associated with El Niño warm surface water in
2850-438: Was 2.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.6%. 64,306 people (46.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 69,323 people (50.6%) lived in rental housing units . According to the 2010 United States Census, Pasadena had a median household income of $ 69,302, with 13.2% of the population living below the federal poverty line . During 2015–2019, Pasadena had a median household income of $ 83,068, with 14.5% of
2907-654: Was 3.18. The age distribution of the population was as follows: 26,507 people (19.3%) were under the age of 18, 12,609 people (9.2%) aged 18 to 24, 45,371 people (33.1%) aged 25 to 44, 34,073 people (24.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 18,562 people (13.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males. There were 59,551 housing units at an average density of 2,574.8 units per square mile (994.1 units/km ), of which 24,863 (45.0%) were owner-occupied, and 30,407 (55.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate
SECTION 50
#17327876185102964-512: Was divided between Rancho San Rafael (lands west of the Arroyo Seco extending to present-day Burbank in the northwest to Glassell Park in the southwest), Rancho del Rincon de San Pascual , (present-day central Pasadena, Altadena , and South Pasadena ), and Rancho Santa Anita (present-day east Pasadena, Arcadia, and Monrovia). Rancho del Rincon de San Pascual was so named because it was deeded on Easter Sunday to Eulalia Perez de Guillén Mariné of Mission San Gabriel Arcángel . The last of
3021-860: Was established by ordinance in October 2002 under the authority of the Mills Act (California Government Code, Article 12, Sections 50280-50290). Under this act, local governments may enter into historic property contracts with owners of qualifying privately owned historic properties who agree to rehabilitate, restore and/or maintain their property according to the Secretary of Interior Standards. California's four largest cities (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Jose) as well as more than 75 other city and county governments have instituted Mills Act programs. City of Pasadena Pasadena ( / ˌ p æ s ə ˈ d iː n ə / PAS -ə- DEE -nə )
3078-401: Was formed to take charge of the parade. In 1902, the association declared that a football game would be added to the day's events. This was the first post-season college football game to be played on New Year's Day and is known as, "The Grandaddy of Them All"; many other football stadiums followed suit. After two decades, the game outgrew its original facility, and a new stadium was constructed in
3135-671: Was incorporated on June 19, 1886, becoming one of the first cities to be incorporated in what is now Los Angeles County, following the city of Los Angeles (April 4, 1850). Pasadena is known for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade . It is also home to many scientific, educational, and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , Pasadena City College , Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine , Fuller Theological Seminary , Theosophical Society , Parsons Corporation , Art Center College of Design ,
3192-488: Was the first school in the United States to offer professional education in the field of acting. Point Loma Nazarene University was located in Pasadena for many years before relocating to San Diego County , and retained the names Pasadena University and Pasadena College. In 1969, the Pasadena Unified School District was desegregated, though the issue would continue to be fought in court for
3249-530: Was widely considered a twin city to Los Angeles. The first of the hotels to be established in Pasadena was the Raymond (1886) atop Bacon Hill, renamed Raymond Hill after construction.The original Mansard Victorian 200-room facility burned down on Easter morning of 1895, was rebuilt in 1903, and razed during the Great Depression to make way for residential development. The Maryland Hotel existed from
#509490