The Pasadena City Council recently approved the sale of the historic El Capitan Theater and the adjoining Corrigan Center property to a New Jersey-based chemical company for approximately $4.6 million.

The real estate deal was approved by a vote of six-to-three at a meeting held Tuesday (Aug. 5). Councilmember Don Harrison questioned if the sale price and the arrangement made to lease back a portion of the Corrigan Center which currently houses the city’s municipal court and the administrative offices of the Pasadena Fire Department.

“Even though I want to get rid of the property I have real problems with the appraisal itself,” Councilmember Don Harrison said. “And I have problem with the lease back (arrangement) of $383,000 and the return on our investment.”

The El Capitan Theatre is available for private event rentals and film shoots. The El Capitan Theatre will do a partial validation for the cost of your parking if you park at the Hollywood & Highland Center, directly across the street from the theatre. Parking rates at the Hollywood & Highland Center are $3.00 for up to 4 hours with validation from the El Capitan Theatre; $2.00 for every 20 minutes thereafter.

Councilmembers Cody Ray Wheeler and Ornaldo Ybarra also voted against the sale but made no comment prior to the vote. Voting in favor of the measure were Mayor Johnny Isbell, Councilmembers Bruce Leamon, Pat Van Houte, Phil Cayten, Steve Cote and Darrell Morrison.

The El Capitan Theater was built in 1949 and was a popular city attraction until it closed in 1965. The City of Pasadena purchased the property in 1995 in hopes of attracting an investor to help share remodeling costs to re-open the theater.

Parking.com has convenient parking near the El Capitan Theatre. Click on a location listed in the map below for more information about parking. El Capitan Theatre is a fully restored movie palace that is located adjacent to the historic Hollywood Masonic Temple (now known as the El Capitan Entertainment Centre). El Capitan Theatre Parking Open Full Map Airport Shuttle Bicycle Parking Car Wash Covered Parking On-Site Elevator EV Charger Guidance System Handicap Spaces In and Out Parking Lighting Airport/Venue Official Open 24/7 Over 7ft.

In 2009, city officials awarded an $85,000 contract to Civil Concepts for engineering services and a $105,000 contract to M. Arthur Gensler Jr. for architecture services. Shortly after, the front façade of the property was restored.

However, in the years that followed the long hoped-for investor never materialized and the theater fell into disrepair.

According to agenda documents, the property was bought by Camin Cargo Control Inc. for $4,605,000. Based in Linden, NJ, the chemical testing and inspection company currently has a Pasadena location on Dabney Street.

Company officials did not return calls seeking information and it is unclear if the El Capitan will be torn down or how the property will be used.

Agenda documents indicate city officials agreed to a two-year, lease-back agreement to include 31,982 square feet for monthly payments of $31,982 ($383,784 annually).

The theater space measures 11,529 square feet and the Corrigan Center is 70,789 square feet. Both sit on a 9.084-acre parcel located at 1001 Shaw Avenue.

However, in the years that followed the long hoped-for investor never materialized and the theater fell into disrepair.

Company officials did not return calls seeking information and it is unclear if the El Capitan will be torn down or how the property will be used.

Where To Park For El Capitan Theaters

Agenda documents indicate city officials agreed to a two-year, lease-back agreement to include 31,982 square feet for monthly payments of $31,982 ($383,784 annually).

Where To Park For El Capitan Theater Los Angeles

The theater space measures 11,529 square feet and the Corrigan Center is 70,789 square feet. Both sit on a 9.084-acre parcel located at 1001 Shaw Avenue.