FairOaks@Mission Project | Chipotle Coming to South Pasadena

Construction continues on Fairoaks@Mission, a new project under construction at Fair Oaks Avenue and Mission Street in South Pasadena. It’s designed to reconnect retail, pedestrian and cyclist activity from Mission Street, around the corner up-and-down Fair Oaks Avenue to neighboring businesses

RENDERINGS: Kutzer Company | SouthPasadenan.com News | The Fairoaks@mission project at the former Citizen's Bank location in South Pasadena

Something big is taking place at the corner of Mission Street and Fair Oaks Avenue in South Pasadena.

Citizens Business Bank, a longtime institution at the busy intersection, has uprooted and moved north to 625 Fair Oaks to inside one of the city’s largest buildings, a three-story, red-brick structure that is looking at major development of its own in its rear parking area.

The removal of the bank creates ample room for the Kutzer Company and Dahl Architect’s vision for Fairoaks@Mission, featuring retail businesses, including a Chipotle and Starbucks — the latter moving from its current location next door to nearby Wells Fargo Bank on Fair Oaks Avenue. Landscaping the property will be the firm of Lilian Montalvo.

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All three believe enhancements will help to give new life to the busy intersection.

The idea is to transform the gateway to Mission Street by reworking the aging former bank that sat at the property since the mid-‘70s, connecting retail, pedestrian and cyclist activity from Fair Oaks, around the corner to neighboring businesses.

The new construction project, across the street from the iconic Fair Oaks Pharmacy, will also be eco-friendly, designed to encourage people to get out of their cars. Environmentally friendly landscaping, using drought-tolerant plants, is also part of it, including a living “green wall” facing the street.

Clear glass facades, outdoor dining patios and exterior green walls are just some of the features at the site. Pedestrian-friendliness, an open and inviting atmosphere along with plenty of outdoor seating, will all be integrated into the plan.

Bike-friendly: those behind the project say there will be ample room for two-wheelers and a self-service repair station should be a pleasing amenity for cyclists.

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., or known simply as Chipotle, specializes in tacos and Mission-style burritos. The American chain of fast casual restaurants is based in United States with sites in Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, and France.

The project was slated for completion near the end of the year, but the timeline is currently uncertain due to the effects that COVID-19 has had on development and businesses.

Up the street, an 86-unit proposed apartment project for a 2.6-acre site behind 625 Fair Oaks featuring a Spanish Colonial design, has been recently approved by South Pasadena’s Planning Commission.

The complex will occupy a large parking lot facing Mound Avenue south of Grevalia Street.

 


2 COMMENTS

  1. I’m EXTREMELY enthused about the quality of that building. It’s an elegant adaptation of a big ugly concrete box, and a tremendous improvement to the neighborhood. But if it’s filled by a bunch of crap chain stores, who cares? Is the plan that first an excessive pandemic lockdown destroys half of our locally owned independent businesses, then we cram a beautiful small town full of boring chain stores?

    I loved the South Pasadena of Buster’s and Videotheque. The South Pasadena of Chipotle and ubiquitous Starbucks is Pasadena, South.