Neighborhood overview
Old Pasadena is in Pasadena, California. Historic commercial streets around Colorado Boulevard and the western civic core.
The City of Pasadena documents Colorado Boulevard as the setting for the Tournament of Roses parade, held on January 1 since 1890. Memorial Park and Del Mar Metro A Line stations sit in this part of the city. Confirm zoning and any historic overlay on the specific parcel.
“Old Pasadena” is used here for the historic commercial streets around Colorado Boulevard near the western civic core, including access to Memorial Park and Del Mar Metro A Line stations. It is a commercial-corridor name, not a single official residential-neighborhood boundary. Confirm zoning and any historic overlay on the specific parcel.
Neighborhood character
The recognizable character is commercial: historic storefront streets, the parade route on Colorado Boulevard, and transit stations at Memorial Park and Del Mar. That is not the same identity as Bungalow Heaven or Madison Heights.
Event-day use of Colorado Boulevard is a documented civic fact, not a lifestyle ranking. Access and noise on a parade or event day belong in a review of the address.
Treat the name as approximate. It does not replace a parcel map, a zoning letter, or a historic-overlay check.
Homes & property types
The core is commercial. Residential inventory nearby includes upper-story units, lofts, and nearby houses. Do not treat Old Pasadena as a single-family neighborhood label.
A mixed-use unit over a ground-floor commercial space is a different product from a house on a quieter nearby street. Parking, access, and commercial conditions should be read from the parcel.
This page does not publish a typical year built or an unverified mix of condos versus houses. Product type must be taken from the building.
What makes properties here different
Sales here can turn on mixed-use rules, commercial ground-floor conditions, or event-day access on Colorado Boulevard. Those facts do not appear in a citywide median.
A loft or upper-story unit is not comparable to a bungalow in a landmark district. Use comps of the same product type.
Historic overlay, if any, is parcel-specific. Confirm it with the City rather than assuming the corridor name carries one set of rules.
For owners
Selling in Old Pasadena means explaining the building you have — mixed-use, loft, or nearby house — and the corridor conditions that come with Colorado Boulevard. Buyers comparing this to a designated landmark-district street are looking at a different Pasadena product. A property-specific review can help place the property within its relevant local market and comparable-property context. It is advisory and is not an appraisal.
Living in the neighborhood
This part of Pasadena is organized around historic commercial streets and Colorado Boulevard. The City documents the Tournament of Roses parade here since 1890.
Memorial Park and Del Mar Metro A Line stations provide documented rail access. Visit Pasadena lists those stations; confirm current operations with Metro.
Dining and shopping are the commercial purpose of the corridor. This page does not publish an unverified list of businesses. Schools and citywide civic resources remain on the Pasadena city guide.
Neighborhood FAQ
- What is Old Pasadena known for?
- Historic commercial streets around Colorado Boulevard, including the documented Tournament of Roses parade route since 1890, and Metro A Line stations at Memorial Park and Del Mar.
- What types of homes are found in Old Pasadena?
- The core is commercial. Nearby residential inventory includes upper-story units, lofts, and houses. It is not a single-family neighborhood label.
- What architectural styles are common here?
- The documented identity is the historic commercial corridor. Residential styles vary by building and must be read from the parcel.
- Is Old Pasadena a historic or landmark district?
- This page uses Old Pasadena as a commercial-corridor name, not as a single official residential landmark-district boundary. Confirm zoning and any historic overlay on the specific parcel.
- Are there restrictions on modifying homes here?
- Mixed-use rules, commercial conditions, and any historic overlay are parcel-specific. Confirm with the City.
- What should homeowners consider before renovating?
- Building type, ground-floor use, access on Colorado Boulevard, and whether an overlay applies. Those questions are not answered by the corridor name.
- What makes homes in this neighborhood different from other homes in Pasadena?
- Commercial-corridor and mixed-use conditions, event-day use of Colorado Boulevard, and transit stations nearby — unlike a landmark bungalow district or a hillside street on the Arroyo.
- What should a homeowner know before selling a home in Old Pasadena?
- Identify the product type and the corridor facts that come with it. Citywide medians do not price a loft or a mixed-use unit. A review is not an appraisal.
Other Pasadena neighborhoods
Sources
- City of Pasadena — About Pasadena — retrieved 2026-08-15.
- Visit Pasadena — Los Angeles Metro service — retrieved 2026-08-15.
Pasadena city guide · All Pasadena neighborhoods · Selling options in Pasadena
Sidney Manzo, CA DRE #01108914, licensed in California. Informational only: a property-specific review is advisory, not an appraisal, and neither this page nor the form creates a listing agreement. Equal Housing Opportunity.