At least 10 percent of Pasadena covered by historic designation

Does anyone out there remember the Oaks Theatre on Fair Oaks Blvd.? It featured live burlesque performances. Is it still around?

I love Pasadena, because of the all the historic houses and buildings. I tell people that I live here with a sense of great pride, because of all that this city offers (a blast to the past). Let's keep it beautiful. By the way, stop building new apartment complexes. They look nice but, it's just too much.

Does anybody remeber the old boxing ring that was located down on So.Fairoaks, now that was historical. Some great fighters came through there before the became famous. All of the History of Pasadena is not just located in the down town area there is history through out the city, the home where Jackie Robinson's mother lived on El Sereno, the churches where some of the great musiscians attended when the came to town, and not to forget Bill's Chicken that used to be on Fairoaks and movedover on to Washington a block over from lake ave. Talk about history, Remeber Nealey's "Do Drop In" "Ida's Cafe" The TiKi Club and a few others the helped bring historical value to Pasadena. My family has been in and around pasadena since the early 1900's as entrepuenuers from selling ties on street corners to owning record shops and night clubs.

Old school Pasadenan, I remember all those places, back in the day. I used to workout down at the Pasadena Arena on Fair Oaks, with Stanley Jamerson and Bobby Brewer.

And, I remember Nealey's and The Scattegood. And, we used to see the old Westerns at The Fair Oaks Theater. And, surely you remember the Movies at The Gold Shell on Raymond Ave.

Preservationists need to be more selective regarding what needs preserving. Some of the properties that they make an issue of are eye-sores that desperately need to be bulldozed. Let's bring some rational thinking to the definition of "historical". Too many of these people are stuck in the past, and slaves to nostalgia.

What historic preservation? I've seen bungalows and late 19th century brick buildings that are torn down all the time to be replaced by characterless, cheap, stucco apartments. The city of Pasadena seems to care more about increasing residents and city revenues then saving historic buildings and focusing on beautifying the city.

Keith wrote:

Preservationists need to be more selective regarding what needs preserving. Some of the properties that they make an issue of are eye-sores that desperately need to be bulldozed. Let's bring some rational thinking to the definition of "historical". Too many of these people are stuck in the past, and slaves to nostalgia.

So basically, out with the old in with the new. This was exactly the attitude that demolished the Red Cars (trolley) from LA. Everyone had the opinion that trolleys were old and cars were new and better. Now we are left with freeways that are eye sores, over congested, and filled with frustrated drivers. It's funny now we are rebuilding our light rail infer structure because we're finally realizing cars are not an efficient way to get around a huge metropolis. So out with those old buildings and in with the huge emotionless stucco pieces of garbage!

Sean Bleakley wrote:

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So basically, out with the old in with the new...It's funny now we are rebuilding our light rail infer structure because we're finally realizing cars are not an efficient way to get around a huge metropolis. So out with those old buildings and in with the huge emotionless stucco pieces of garbage!

Where do you draw the line? These older buildings require increasingly costly maintenance and refitting to remain suitable for use -- and in any case, it's not possible to preserve them all. If your concern is with the loss of character, you should talk to the Pasadena City Council and its related commissions (e.g., Design Commission), who can actually do something about the look of new buildings. I know you'll probably do it, too :)

Sean Bleakley wrote:

What historic preservation? I've seen bungalows and late 19th century brick buildings that are torn down all the time to be replaced by characterless, cheap, stucco apartments. The city of Pasadena seems to care more about increasing residents and city revenues then saving historic buildings and focusing on beautifying the city.

Absolutely! You just said what I often think!