PUSD announced its intention to demolish portions of Eliot Arts Magnet Middle School, including its iconic tower. In the attached letters, you will find responses from Altadena Heritage and Supervisor Kathryn Barger that convey the historical and cultural significance of this architectural gem, how deeply Altadena values it, and the degree of Altadenans’ disappointment over the announcement. The future of Eliot is uncertain, but Altadena Heritage’s commitment to reason and transparency is firm. We will keep everyone informed as our efforts to save this unique Altadena landmark unfold.
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May 6, 2026 letter transcript:
To: Dr. Elizabeth Blanco, Superintendent, Pasadena Unified School District
From: Altadena Heritage
Dear Dr. Blanco:
We watched with tremendous grief your recent announcement before the Altadena Town Council’s Land Use Committee that the District intends to demolish significant portions of Eliot Middle School, including its beloved tower.
When Eliot was built in 1931, on the design of Marston and Maybury, it was widely felt to be one of the most beautiful schools in the country. It remains that today—even after the Fire. It is not just important architecture: it is important civic architecture. This is no doubt why Altadena’s own Community Standards District, codified at section 22.320.090(C)(2)(a)(ii), identifies Eliot as holding potential “historic or architectural significance.” It is one of just five properties in all of Altadena so identified in our CSD.
The CSD also notes that “[a]ny application for the . . . demolition of significant properties” is subject to its provisions, and that Altadena Heritage be given 30 days notice “prior to the issuance of a permit by the applicable department that approved, with or without conditions, or denies the applications.” We look forward to receiving this notice.
Not only does Altadena’s own CSD stand up for Eliot, the County’s West San Gabriel Valley Area Plan identifies it, in an accompanying Historic Context Statement, as potentially eligible for historic designation. We believe that the L.A. Conservancy’s Historic Resources Survey and Cultural Asset Mapping of Altadena, now well-underway owing to generous grants from the Getty and Mellon Foundations , will reach the same conclusion.
Of course, the District knows that Eliot matters, and why. This is why it passed Resolution 2800 in the weeks following the Eaton Fire, resolving that “PUSD is particularly committed to maintaining the unique architecture of Eliot Arts Magnet Middle School, restoring it to its original stature.”
We must also say that it is one thing to reach a brutal decision, which this no doubt is. Altadenans have proven over the past 18 months that they can endure brutality in their lives. It is quite another thing, though, to deliver a brutal decision brutally, and that is what the District did during the Land Use Committee hearing. You made it clear that you made a decision, but you offered very little to explain the lengths you went to not to make that decision. And you did not make it clear enough that this hurts you as much as it hurts us. That is what the Altadena community wants and deserves to hear. We look forward to you sharing with us the detailed financial, engineering, and risk reports you commissioned that compelled your conclusion that most of Eliot must come down.
Please understand that the Altadena community is your partner in this. We want Eliot to endure—and for that to be your triumph as stewards of the school as much as it is Altadena’s victory. Please consider working with us, and with the Altadena community, to honor the commitment you made to restore Eliot.
Best regards,
The Board of Altadena Heritage
