Stayner Architects
8 September 2025
CREEC Coalition
Outward Bound Adventures
Charles Thomas, Executive Director
Post Office Box 202
Pasadena, CA 91102
RECEIVED
2025 SEP-8 PM 3; 31
CITY CLERK
CITY OF PASADENA
Regarding: Viability of the Climate Resilience Environmental Education Center (CREEC) at Hahamongna Watershed Park
Dear Charles,
We are writing to provide professional observations regarding the adaptive reuse of the six existing Forest Service buildings within the Hahamongna Watershed Park Aimex into a new Climate Resilience Environmental Education Center (CREEC).
As you have described, CREEC is an initiative to transfonn an abandoned compound in Hahamongna Watershed Park into a resilient resource for paid environmental restoration workforce development, outdoor education, and community stewardship. CREEC will serve all of Los Angeles, with a local focus on the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, fire-impacted communities in Altadena and Northwest Pasadena, and disadvantaged communities of color from South Los Angeles. CREEC will expand Outward Bound Adventures' mission to involve youth and adults from demographics excluded from the conservation field. In addition, it will serve as a community hub for partners like the Pasadena Audubon Society, Side Street Projects, My Tribe Rise, Arlington Garden, and Friends of the LA River.
Based on our initial investigations, the proposed use for these existing structures is not only viable but offers significant environmental benefits. We believe these existing structures are worthy of a comprehensive feasibility study.
The following memo outlines our initial findings:
• Adaptive reuse of portions of the existing structures has significant environmental benefits relating to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and solid waste reductions. The average building's initial manufachiring and construction phase emits more GHG emissions than during its operational phase.1 It can take up to 80 years for energy 1 Lewis, M. etal. (2024) AIA-CLF Embodied Carbon Toolkit for Architects. Available at:
https://www.aia.org/sites/defaulVfiles/2024-ll/AIA_CLF_EmbodiedCarbonToolkit_Partl.pdf T: 213 484 0224
F: 213 483 8768
www.staynerarchite9f8yt2025
office@staynerarchitec^rf|r?t 1
o Flood Mitigation: Adding raised floors within the stmchires at lower elevations. • Extensive demolition of the existing structures in proximity to heritage oak trees will negatively impact their health. An assessment by International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist® Matt Ribaric from the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority on August 29, 2025, identified two trees in proximity to four structures with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of over 60 inches that qualify as heritage oaks. The largest of these is already stressed and needs immediate care. o Soil Health: Using heavy machinery will compact the soil around the trees, reducing their access to water, oxygen, and nutrients. Debris from the demolition will contaminate the soil.
o Invasive Species and Fire Risk: The widespread presence of invasive mustard seed on the site is competing with oak trees for resources and dismpting the essential relationship between oak roots and beneficial fungi, making the trees vulnerable to disease, drought, and fire. A large pile of dead wood and mulch further increases fire risk and can introduce invasive beetles like the Goldspotted Oak Borer and Invasive Shothole Borer, identified by UC IPM as a significant threat specifically to mature oaks.
The use appears to be consistent with the adopted 2010 Addendum to the Hahamongna Watershed Park Master Plan for the Hahamongna Annex, General Plan (Open Space:
Parks), and Zoning (OS).
• It appears feasible to adapt the existing structures into a new nature center that is appropriate to the new use, space needs, and public-facing presence in the park.
Stayner Architects is a Los Angeles-based practice specializing in serving non-profit and culhiral instihitions to realize landmark civic projects that create spaces for learning, culture, and equity in the region. Our process centers on robust community and stakeholder engagement, passive sustainability strategies, and adaptive reuse designed with circularity and material reuse in mind.
Best regards,
Christian Stayner, AIA, NCARB, LEED-AP
Principal, Stayner Architects
California Architect License C-37583
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CREEC Letter of Viability, 25 August 2025,Page 3
September 8, 2025
Christian Stayner
Stayner Architects
4362 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90029 US
RECEIVED
2025 SEP-8 PH 3: 09
CiTY CLERK
CITY OF PASADENA
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Nous Engineering
5050 Eagle Rock Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90041
RE:Hahamongna Watershed Park Annex Structural Assessment Dear Christian:
On August 28,2025,1 attended a site walk at the hlahamonga Watershed Park Annex Area in Pasadena with representatives from Stayner Architects and CREEC. The purpose of the site walk was to observe the condition of several small existing structures that have fallen into disrepair and to consider the feasibility of a proposal to renovate and reuse these buildings to support a mix of environmental education, workforce development, and cultural programming.
Located on the annex property are six single-story buildings constructed of reinforced concrete masonry (CMU) walls and timber-framed roofs. Each building has an interior concrete floor slab. From the site walk, here are my obsen/ations:
Existing roofs have deteriorated and, in some cases, collapsed, to what appears to be beyond a state of repair.
Existing exterior CMU walls are in a satisfactory condition from a structural perspective. There are no signs of uneven settlement, out-of-plane tilt, or cracking in the walls. The exterior surface of the buildings is generally intact, without the tell-tale signs of spalling due to deterioration, water intrusion, or vandalism. • Existing slabs, where visible, were in decent condition. There were no signs of cracking or spalling, which might occur if standing water were present for an extended period. There did not appear to be signs of cracking due to uneven settlement.
Based on these observations, it is structurally feasible to consider renovating these buildings and reusing them. Although the roof structures will need to be replaced, the load-bearing CMU walls can be preserved. Furthermore, and in part due to their small sizes, extensive strengthening of the walls to meet current code requirements is not anticipated. If you have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to contact my office.
Sincerely,
GjoJ^^ I^Aj^jk—
Matthew Melnyk, SE
Principal
9/8/2025
Item 11
Matthew Ribarich
ISA Certified Arborist#WE-13471A
[email protected]
7 September 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council of Pasadena
RECEIVED
2025 SEP-8 PH3'-<0
CiTY CL£RK_
C1T/OF PASADENA
Regarding: Support for adaptive reuse of existing buildings for the Climate Resilience Environmental Education Center (CREEC) at Hahamongna Watershed Park Annex Dear Mayor and Council Members,
On August 29, 2025, I had the opportunity to walk with representatives from Outward Bound and Stayner Architects to learn about the proposed adaptive reuse of the existing annex-area buildings at Hahamongna Watershed Park. I was impressed by their vision to rehabilitate the site while minimizing unnecessary disturbance.
Several mature coast live oaks grow in close proximity to the existing buildings. These native trees are highly valuable for their shade, wildlife habitat, and resilience in our local climate. They also form a living canopy that cannot be quickly or easily replaced. Demolition and new construction would put these oaks at significant risk of decline or loss, even with standard tree protection measures, due to their proximity to structures and their current condition. Other mature tree species on site also grow near buildings and contribute canopy as well as environmental and aesthetic benefits.
Adaptive reuse of the buildings provides a much better path forward, greatly reducing impacts on these trees. This approach not only preserves the existing canopy but also offers opportunities to use the trees themselves as teaching tools: helping students and visitors learn about tree care, preservation, and the importance of native species in our region.
For these reasons, I support the proposed adaptive reuse of the site and encourage the Council to prioritize a plan that retains and protects these trees. Preserving mature trees aligns with the Pasadena Climate Action Plan and demonstrates environmental stewardship to future generations.
Thank you for your consideration. Please feel free to contact me if you would like further details.
Respectfully,
'7v^^s__
Matthew Ribarich
ISA Certified Arborist #WE13471-A
9/8/2025
Item 11
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SASHA REN^E P&REZ
TWENTY-FtFTH SENATE DISTRICT
SENATE COMMITTEE ON
EDUCATION
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0 Speaker Robert Rivas
California State Assembly
1021 0 Street, Suite 8330
Sacramento, CA 95814
Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire
California State Senate
1021 0 Street, Suite 8518
Sacramento, CA 95814
AssemblymemberJesse Gabriel, Chair
Assembly Budget Committee
1021 0 Street, Suite 8230
Sacramento, CA 95814
Senator Scott Wiener, Chair
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
1021 0 Street, Suite 8620
Sacramento, CA 95814
Assemblymember Steve Bennett, Chair
Assembly Budget Subcommittee #4
1021 0 Street, Suite 4710
Sacramento, CA 95814
Senator Ben Alien, Chair
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee #2
1021 0 Street, Suite 6610
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Letter of Support for Outward Bound Adventures Prop 4 Funding Request- Climate Resilience Environmental Education Center at Hahamongna Watershed Park (CREEC) Dear Legislative and Budget Leadership:
As the State Senator representing communities impacted by the recent Eaton Fire, I am writing in support of a $3 million allocation in 2024-25 Proposition 4 funding for the creation of the Climate Resilience Environmental Education Center at Hahamonga Watershed Park (CREEC) by Outward Bound Adventures (OBA).
OBA was established in 1962 and serves as the oldest non-profit in the nation dedicated to connecting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) youth with nature and diversifying environmental conservation careers. Among its more recent efforts is this proposed Climate Resilience Environmental Education Center at Hahamonga Watershed Park. This is a multi- phase restoration project that integrates workforce development with ecological revitalization 9/8/2025
Item 11
of the environmentally significant Arroyo Seco Watershed. This initiative benefits the local community on several fronts. Specifically, it will contribute to creating a sustainable workforce development, provide for environmental education, and establish an eco-cultural center to engage youth and adults from demographics historically excluded from conservation and restoration education and stewardship activities.
The site for the CREEC project is the 6.65-acre former US Forest Service Compound in the City of Pasadena's Hahamongna Watershed Park Annex that includes 6 abandoned buildings that have been deteriorating for 20 years. These buildings will be adaptively reused and transformed into premier models of sustainable, fire-resilient, and water/heat-conserving designs. OBA needs funding to cover portions of the approximately $10 million rehabilitation cost, as well as financing for improvements and upgrades to the site infrastructure to reach its potential as a premier learning center.
An allocation of $3 million in Proposition 4 funding will allow for OBA to begin three phases to realize the project. The first is to launch the Arroyo Seco Watershed Workforce Development Project including providing paid, on-the-job training in restoration work for community members impacted by the Eaton Fire, and supporting ecological education of local black and brown youth. Second, begin native landscape restoration at the CREEC site by the natural fall deadline of native planting season, with the guidance of the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians. Lastly, this funding will allow OBA and the CREEC coalition partners to begin the adaptive reuse and rehabilitation of the 6 buildings within 9 months. Funding these three immediate phases allows CREEC to develop an operable site to implement our dynamic array of programming for the community.
Central to the programming at CREEC, OBA will run an innovative training center on-site that will provide paid, on-the-job training for careers in conservation and restoration. This funding will allow the training center to utilize the landscape and architectural restoration of the site as hands-on learning projects, and the entire Arroyo Seco, as a world-class ecological learning laboratory. This center will be a regional environmental education and workforce training hub serving all of Los Angeles, and locally serving the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians (SGBMI), fire-impacted communities in Altadena and Northwest Pasadena, as well as disadvantaged communities of color from South Los Angeles.
Thank you for the consideration. If you have any questions, please contact my office at (916) 651-4025.
Respectfully,
S-^rfi^
SASHARENEEPEREZ
Senator, 25th Senate District
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FRIENDS OFTHE
LA RIVERRECEIVED
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570 W. AVE 26 #250
LOS ANGELES
CA 90065
323.223.0585
[email protected]
To Whom it May Concern,
This letter is being sent to your agency in support of the revitali6ytl9n &ith^'^nWifl^J^hamongna Watershed Park for the Climate Resilience Education and Environmental Center (CREEC).
CREEC is proposed by a coalition of seven nonprofits led by Outward Bound Adventures (OBA), including the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, Pasadena Audubon Society, Side Street Projects, Arlington Garden, Friends of Los Angeles River and My Tribe Rise. Restoration of this site for an environmental education center aligns with the goals outlined in both the hlahamongna Watershed Master Plan (HWP) and the City of Pasadena's General Plan.
By transforming the Annex into an environmental education center, the City will provide a unique space for learning about climate adaptation, sustainability methods, and health benefits to all members of the community. CREEC will provide the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians the opportunity to have its first educational center in the region designed to inform the public about Traditional Ecology Knowledge, tribal cultural heritage and history of the area from a Native American perspective. By advancing this project, Pasadena has the opportunity to honor the land's cultural history while ensuring its ecological health and accessibility for generations to come.
Friends of the LA River and Pasadena Audubon Society will add scientific-based research on the endangered native trout species, as well as local native plant monitoring, native bird species identification, habitat restoration, and providing field work training on conservation methods, water resource management and the impact of climate change on our ecosystems.
Providing workforce development, particularly for urban youth of color, in careers in conservation, wildfire prevention, habitat restoration, life sciences, and other STEM fields is an essential component of the CREEC vision. And it aligns with the City of Pasadena Economic Development Strategy's Guiding Principle: Champion Life Sciences and Cultivate Deep Tech Ecosystem in Pasadena. By addressing community workforce development and capital improvement priorities, this project will create jobs and foster economic growth for underrepresented groups in environmental and conservation fields while preserving the ecological and cultural significance of the hlahamongna watershed.
We recommend that the Pasadena City Council take action to restore the Annex in hlahamongna Watershed Park to the Climate Resilient Education and Environmental Center by signing a lease or MOU with OBA as the lead organization facilitating CREEC.
We thank you for considering this project proposal and for recognizing its potential benefit not only to Pasadena and Altadena, but to the surrounding region.
Sincerely,
Candice Dickens-Russell
President & CEO
9/8/2025
Item 11
Vision Plan connections
Supported programs along the Arroyo
RAA Community Center
Ba
Education/Workforce development
Outdoor Classrooms
Joint Education Programs
Plant production
Habitats Restoration
Community Empowerment Events
Stewardship Programs
Ecosystem Monitoring
Green Cities Workshops
Research
ComConfluence
Vision plan connections:
이
ANNEX
John Muir High School
Green streets
Restored floodplain
Riparian zone under the 134
Habitat restoration at LowerArroyo
Sycamore Grove Park
Habitat restoration at South Pasadena
Audubon Center Habitat restoration at Hermon Park
和
Connects to Northern Arroyo bicycle and soft circulations network Develops and empowers educational programs along the Arroyo Monitors and conducts research quality of water, infiltration, biodiversity, and best practices for restoration projects Produces plants for habitat restoration programs along the Arroyo Offers a base for stakeholders to find consensus and empowers projects SPATIAL DESIGN #1: THE ANNEX
Objectives and Community Engagement Input related to Hahamongna Watershed Park:
•
Develop educational and environmental programs
Protect existing plant habitats and biodiversity
Prioritize nature-focused design over bold design interventions Improve public access to the river through public transportation and soft circulations THE ANNEX:
Climate Resiliencе
Environmental Education
Center
Hahamonga Watershed Park
Brookside Park
1 Mile from the Annex
4 Miles from the Annex
Lower Arroyo
South Pasadena Nature Park
Ernest E. Debs Regional Park
Los Angeles River Confluence
6 Miles from the Annex
Master Plan
The Annex Environmental Center
Disc golf
2 5
12 New trail connection
Hahamongna Watershed Park
3 10
New trail connection
New bike path
-Public and community area
1 Main entrance
2 Conference center
3 Dining hall
4 Indoor classrooms
5 Sycamore grove
6 Central Gathering area
7 Site manager grounds
Research and training area
8 Existing Hahamonga native nursery
9 Additional production nursery
10 Indoor classrooms and research labs
11 Workforce training atelier
12 Oak grove
New trailconnection
Arroyo Seco
Riverbed
100
yards
The Annex
Climate Resilience Environmental Education Center at Hahamongna Watershed Park Hahamonga Watershed Park
Devil's Gate Dam
Channel and
Brookside Golf Course
210 Highway
THE ANNEX:
Project of a Climate
Resilience Environmental
Education Center
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Spreading bassins
San Gabriel Mountains
Non-profit Coalition of Partners:
ARLINGTON GARDEN IN PASADENA ARROYO SECO FOUNDATION
PASADENA AUDUBON SOCETY
NARD BO
side street projects TRIBE
RISE
OFTHI
LARIVERLARIVER
Project Purpose:
The Coalition of partners shared purpose
is to create an environmental center in
Hahamongna Watershed Park that has a
transformative impact on the public, through:
workforce development
climate resilience education
- biodiversity restoration,
and is based on values of inclusion and
environmental justice.
Existing conditions
At the Edge of the Natural Wash
2 3
Dilapidated Buildings to retrofit. 2 Interface Annex /Arroyo Seco River Bed 3 Arroyo Seco condition at Site: natural wash Connections beyond the Annex boundary
Programs and paths at the Arroyo
Bus 51 Stop
to Central Arroyo Parks
Hahamonga
Watershed Park
3mn
walk
Oak grove
restoration area
이
Oak grove
restoration area
Chaparral
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Firefighters base
Bike path
Stables
ANNEX
Chaparral and
Alluvial Scrub
restoration area
Alluvial scrub
ARROYO SECO
to National Forest
River wash
Spreading Grounds
restoration area
BUS ROUTE
BIKE ROUTE
TRAILS
RESTORATION AREAS
500
POTENTIAL OUTDOOR
CLASSROOMS AT
NATURAL HABITATS
yards
To Arroyo
Resilient grounds
Circulation
toall
classrooms
Salvia
spathacea
5'
ember
zone
metal
roof
cinder
block
wall
Public
stewardship
training
class
Indoor
classroom
Outdoor
classroom
Shade native plants California native shrubs and undergrowth Altadena trees greening after the fire Ceanothus
Dining
Hall
Restored
sycamore
grove
Existing conditions
Dilapitaded building to retrofit to classroom
View Location plan
Objectives:
Heat Resilience
Fire Resilience
Indoor/Outdoor classroom experience
All graphics attributed to:
CPPMLA LEAD Studio. (2025). Beyond the Channel: Connecting Water, Land, and Community Along the Arroyo
Seco.
Faculty
Advisors:
Li,
Weimin
&
Hunter,
N.
Jade.
Students:
Nicole
Lee,
Chris
Murphy,
Francisco
Ojeda,
and
Sarah
Ouvray.
Community
Partner:
City
of
Pasadena,
Parks
and
Recreation
Department.
Department
of
Landscape
Architecture,
California
State
Polytechnic
University,
Pomona,
CA,
United
States.
Research and Training area
Classrooms, ateliers, and site specific training
B
A A' - Section on Existing nursery, research and vocationnal training (E) Nursery (E) Nursery office (P) Atelier (P) Outdoor classroom (P) Workforce vocational training and Research
Hahamonga Park Swale
B B' - Section on Conference center, production nursery, oak grove and vocationnal training Conference cente
B
Oak grove to restore
(P) Canopy (P) Green house (P) Nursery (P) Swale Parking and Loading area
(P) Workforce vocational
training and Research
NURSERY/SWALE/OAK GROVE INTERFACE
(E) Existing
(P) Projected
(P) Greenhouse (P) Nursery:
production ofArroyo riparian plant palette
Site specific training at
swale and oak grove
Swale
Research and Training area
Extended nursery and connection with worksforce and R&D facilities Main swale
(P) Greenhouse
(P) Production nursery
Hahamongna Watershed Park
Research and Workforce training
Focusing on River Wash communities
(E) Hahamonga
Native Nursery
Oak grove
to restore
Clear
views
to Arroy..
Nursery
Office
Clear
views
to Arroyo
Ateljer
Clear
views
to Arroyo..
(E) Existing
(P) Projected
To Arroyo
Seco
Main human flow
• Classroom
and Research
n
50 yards
and Native Forests Undergrowth