Several Milestones for Ambassador Gardens

After nearly three years of intense design and review, City Ventures’ ambitious Ambassador Gardens has achieved final approval for the last of the development phases for this most unique infill project from the Pasadena Design Review Commission. 

Set within the manicured gardens and “Millionaires’ Row” mansions of South Orange Grove Avenue, construction is nearly complete on phase one, 19 luxurious flats and townhomes along Del Mar Avenue.  The units are designed to appear to be two mansions, one a California Bungalow mansion inspired by the architecture of Greene & Greene, the other, an English Arts & Crafts mansion inspired by the work of Sir Edwin Lutyens. 

Sitework and foundation work is proceeding on the 21-unit phase two, while demolition of a pair of 1960’s academic buildings built on either side of the historic Merritt Italian Gardens during the estate’s period as the private “Ambassador College” is moving forward, in preparation of phase three and four construction, this brings the total of luxurious new units to 70. 

City Ventures is preparing to transform the Merritt Mansion, originally the home of multi-millionaire Hulett Merritt, the original consolidator of the estate, into their sales gallery.  

City Ventures was recently honored as one of the recipients of the Pillars of South Orange Grove, presented by Pasadena Heritage.  The other recipients included the 125-year-old The Valley Hunt Club (founder of the Rose Parade), the 100-year-old Westridge School for Girls, the 118-year-old Tournament of Roses Association and the 51-year-old West Pasadena Residents’ Association.  All of these organizations were recognized for their efforts to preserve, respect, and care for Pasadena’s Heritage. 

The luxurious Ambassador Gardens units, overlooking the estate’s gardens, fountains, streams and Great Lawn, with views to City Hall and the San Gabriel mountains on Millionaires’ Row will be truly incomparable as one of the most unique residential environments in the Southland.