Pasadena Heritage and the City of Pasadena engaged Moule & Polyzoides to design the restoration and expansion of historic Gartz Court, a project which also included moving the structures almost three miles from their original location. Perhaps the oldest bungalow court in Pasadena, Gartz Court was transformed into affordable housing and enhanced with additions that were necessary to fit the court into the new site. Additional garages and backyards turned the six original bungalow apartments into full-fledged houses and helped breathe new life into the structures.
Among the first affordable housing projects in the state conceived of as small owner-occupied housing units rather than a large, over-scaled institutional project, it also maintained its historic status despite its relocation. Gartz Court’s success extended to its new neighborhood, helping to precipitate the renewal of a once-downtrodden area.