Send this story Print this story

Adjust text size

Uploaded: Sunday, January 18, 2009, 10:40 AM

SCHEMATICS: Proposed hotel to bring Asian flavor to baylands
Conference center, plaza and 162 rooms proposed for Ming's restaurant site

by Gennady Sheyner
Palo Alto Online Staff

Posted by Resident, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jan 19, 2009 at 8:06 am

This seems to have come in under the radar. Sounds great.

Posted by sally, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Jan 19, 2009 at 8:11 am

Sounds like it will be a nice hotel, but if they are trying to cater to business travelers, I think they should put it somewhere closer to local businesses (e.g., on El Camino or Page Mill Road or University Ave.). From the baylands area, hotel guests will have to negotiate the confusing Embarcadero Road/Hwy 101 interchange, then drive through city neighborhoods to get to their daily destinations.

Posted by Sheri Furman, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Jan 19, 2009 at 10:26 am

The biggest problem facing this project is the traffic at the East Bayshore/Embarcadero intersection. It already ranks as one of the worst in the city and when you add a hotel, gym and conference center to the mix, you're looking at some serious traffic problems.

Posted by jack, a resident of the Adobe-Meadows neighborhood, on Jan 19, 2009 at 10:40 am

I love how they are using both the Japanese element with the Chinese element. I mean, they're all about the same, aren't they? That's why we have Paris in Vegas, right? Or am I just grouchy? :-)

Posted by Karen White, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Jan 19, 2009 at 11:48 am

Overall, it sounds like a wonderful concept that will bring attractive new amenities to us who live in the DSFNA, as well as to the community as a whole. Agreed that the East Bayshore/ Embarcadero intersection will need some adjustment to improve traffic flow and pedestrian/bicycle safety, particularly with the (welcome!) addition of a new hotel at Ming's.

Posted by OhlonePar, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Jan 19, 2009 at 2:21 pm

Yeah, I'm in favor of this one too. While the downtown and El Camino are convenient for some things, there are a number of businesses on that side of Bayshore. It's not in a residential neighborhood and we'll get the tax benefits of a hotel.

Posted by Resident, a member of the Jordan Middle School community, on Jan 19, 2009 at 2:46 pm

Customers should be careful not to get hit by one of the compost hauling trucks. How many truck trips did they say they would save???

And oh, the aroma in that area - reminiscent of many provinces back in China.

Posted by Bad intersection, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Jan 19, 2009 at 6:47 pm

That is a very difficult intersection. There is an exit from 101 right into the intersection which often backs up on to 101.

Ms.White is speaking for herself, not for the neighborhood.

Posted by KAren Black, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Jan 19, 2009 at 7:39 pm

Ms White just likes to talk--she fancies herself a representative of the neighborhood, but is not. She is a nobody whose opinions are valued by nobody.

You know what they say--those who cannot do become neighborhood leaders.

This project should not be approved or at a minimum it should be shunted into the Palo Porcess and dealt with at "Alma Plaza-like" speed.

Posted by anonymous, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Jan 19, 2009 at 9:42 pm

I would prefer to have the Edgewood Plaza (in Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood) dealt with first.

I assume this project will not leapfrog ahead of that. I am quite leery of the traffic this odd hotel development would bring to the Duveneck/St. Francis area.

Posted by Outside Observer, a resident of another community, on Jan 19, 2009 at 10:13 pm

Part of the problem with the Embarcadero/Frontage road intersection is the combined 101 merge lane and right turn lane to frontage road. This combined lane was put in a few years ago to fix the 101 merge problem, but it's only made it worse. 101 traffic usually needs to go into the left lanes quickly. Those turning right on the frontage road also need to get into the right lane quickly, and there simply isn't enough length to this lane for both types of traffic to do it safely.

What's the solution? Well, I'm not a traffic engineer, but maybe a stop light on the 101 merge lane, to synchronize with the light at Embarcadero and Frontage? Are there any traffic professionals out there who could propose a solution?

As for Mings, I think the Hotel is a great idea, and in a great location! Just hope the construction is completed quickly, or that Mings can find a temporary location during the construction. Mings has the best Dim Sum in the Palo Alto area, and if they are down for an extended period, I'll miss them greatly.

Posted by Sally Sue, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Jan 21, 2009 at 8:44 am

East Palo Altans get up and protet this hotel development. Too much traffic, too many cars. No one mentions the development of nearby Edgewood with condo's and another food store. Next they'll want to approve and increase services at the Palo Alto airport! Enough already.

Embarcadero/East Bayshore Roads are already way too congested with the International School, Stanford games and the potential for more new development at the old Lucky's/Edgewood site. Palo Alto never works with East Palo Alto to get input on new development but the minute East Palo Alto trys to develops anything, all of Palo Alto is out to complain. Palo Altans almost killed our very successful University Circle and Four Seasons Hotel projects. Then they want to fly all their damn dangerous and loud airplanes over our homes and schools and stop us from getting in and out of a main entry into EPA?

Oh Please! I think not.

East Palo Alto wake up! Log your complaint on Palo Alto's development of more car and small palne traffic now.

Posted by Sally Sue, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Jan 21, 2009 at 8:45 am

East Palo Altans get up and protet this hotel development. Too much traffic, too many cars. No one mentions the development of nearby Edgewood with condo's and another food store. Next they'll want to approve and increase services at the Palo Alto airport! Enough already.

Embarcadero/East Bayshore Roads are already way too congested with the International School, Stanford games and the potential for more new development at the old Lucky's/Edgewood site. Palo Alto never works with East Palo Alto to get input on new development but the minute East Palo Alto trys to develops anything, all of Palo Alto is out to complain. Palo Altans almost killed our very successful University Circle and Four Seasons Hotel projects. Then they want to fly all their damn dangerous and loud airplanes over our homes and schools and stop us from getting in and out of a main entry into EPA?

Oh Please! I think not.

East Palo Alto wake up! Log your complaint on Palo Alto's development of more car and small palne traffic now.

Posted by An Observer, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jan 23, 2009 at 2:37 am

With high tides, wind and flooding of the nearby creek,river how deep does or can the water be at this site in the 100 or 200 year flooding conditions?

Does anyone know? Will the taxpayers have to bail out this development as they did in the '98 flood?

Site could be rezoned for composting only. This would save the valuable closed dump site for open space use.

Posted by Resident, a member of the Jordan Middle School community, on Jan 23, 2009 at 2:59 am

What assurances do we have that these rooms will not be converted to apartments or condos in the future? The rooms are large enough, and come with kitchens. The project smells fishy to me. If rooms have kitchens, people may cook their own food instead of paying the sky high prices for so-so "Chinese" food.

The design looks like condos/apts and is not compatible with the Baylands/Byxbee park.

Posted by Bad intersection, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Jan 23, 2009 at 3:13 pm

Resident, you are on the right track. When they originally announced they were going to develop the area they proposed something like 50 housing units.

Now that the housing market is in trouble, they are hedging their bets and making it sound good, and they can go back to housing when the market improves.