Cities May Get Priority in Buying State’s Surplus Homes

To help the city buy Caltrans homes that were once in the path of a proposed freeway extension, the area’s state senator introduced legislation Friday to require the state to offer surplus residential property to cities before selling it to public or private agencies.

The bill by state Sen. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank) requires state agencies to offer to cities all surplus housing property that tenants do not want. At present, the law requires such homes to be first sold to tenants and then public and private housing agencies.

Since Caltrans narrowed the Long Beach Freeway extension through Pasadena and South Pasadena, at least 54 homes that initially were to be razed have become surplus property. Of those homes, 11 have been acquired by a Pasadena-based housing agency over the objections of South Pasadena officials and residents.

Schiff said cities should have control over planning decisions, and a better opportunity to create affordable housing that is sensitive to neighborhoods.

South Pasadena recently created a program that will allow the city to buy surplus homes, rehabilitate them and offer them for sale to low- and moderate-income home buyers.