Monday, June 14, 2010

old town details


this corner has been home to several restaurants in just under three years of our life in pasadena. for that reason, i rarely take much time to even look at this building. it is possible that ix tapa will break the trend and become a lasting presence in old town, but i can't be sure about that.

so the other day as i walked by, i happened to look up. and as it turned out, this building has quite a crown! the masonry and decoration on the top few feet of this building is incredible. all of the mediocrity on the ground floor has prevented me from ever looking too closely, and as it turns out i was missing out on something pretty special.

click on the image and take a look at the top. you'll see what i mean! do any locals know if this building has a name?

4 comments:

JustinM said...

I've been in this building many times - my dad's office is there. (I can see his window in the pic.) The top floor has one of the best views in town.

pasadenapio said...

It's called the Chamber Building. The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce used to be there but moved a few years ago. When Pasadena City Hall was closed for the three-year seismic retrofit, many of us relocated to this building. I was on the sixth floor, north side.

When the federal government took over the Vista del Arroyo Hotel and turned it into a military hospital during World War II, a couple of floors of the Chamber Building were used as a boarding hours for families whose wounded loved ones were being treated.

I think "Chamber Building" might be hiding under the awning.

pasadenapio said...

I meant boarding house, not boarding hours...

ben wideman said...

Thanks for the help, PIO!