South Pasadenan: Senate OKs Bill on 710 Non-Profit Sales, Rent Increase Prohibition and Tunnel

The California State Senate on Wednesday, May 22 passed Senate Bill 7, putting the “formal legislative end” to the 710 Freeway extension by prohibiting construction of a freeway tunnel between Routes 10 and 210, according to a statement from the office of bill author Anthony J. Portantino (D-25th). The bill passed on a vote of 38-0. It now moves on to the Assembly. Supporters hope it will be signed by the governor in September.

The bill also addresses the disposition of the “surplus residential and nonresidential property” in the former 710 corridor. Caltrans owns all of the properties, about a quarter of which are vacant.

The bill allows the half-dozen-or-so non-profit tenants, such as the Cottage Co-Op and the Ronald McDonald House, to purchase the property they rent in the corridor at a fair market value that is informed by their “current use,” that is, something below the straight “fair market” value.

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