East Palo Alto may be one of the few U.S cities of 30,000 residents lacking a supermarket. Now this 23-year-old city is close to getting one on a 6-acre vacant lot, but increased land costs forced the new developer to renegotiate the prior plan.
"At a recent community meeting, Barry Swenson, the San Jose mega-developer that bought the six-acre lot last summer, made it known that a taller building will make a supermarket more likely. Architects said 10 to 12 stories with close to 200 for-sale units is ideal."
"Swenson's plans double the density and height proposed last year in a different supermarket plan by the site's former developer. That deal crashed when the landowner, who wanted $8 million within 60 days, backed out and sold to Swenson. Ryan said Thursday that Swenson paid $6 million for the land."
"Plans for a high-rise building in the middle of East Palo Alto are alarming to many residents, said Council Member Pat Foster, and will likely meet resistance from the community and the City Council."
"There are some benefits to a taller and bigger project. More units mean more affordable housing."
"But for East Palo Alto's 30,000 residents, the biggest issue is a local store that carries fresh produce and meat."
FULL STORY: Developer envisions 10-story complex
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
Eviction Looms for Low-Income Tenants as Rent Debt Rises
Nonprofit housing operators across the country face almost $10 billion in rent debt.
Brightline West Breaks Ground
The high-speed rail line will link Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area.
Colorado Bans No-Fault Evictions
In most cases, landlords must provide a just cause for evicting tenants.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
