Palo Alto City Council wants more feedback on 27 University Ave. project Palo Alto Issues, posted by Resident, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Sep 29, 2012 at 6:54 pm
Posted by Jan H, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Sep 30, 2012 at 3:01 pm
John Arrillaga is a billionaire and a long-time resident of PA, as well as an alumnus of Stanford. He has built several building on the campus, and they give him carte blanche
to do what he wants. He wanted to privatize the Stanford Equestrian Center, did so, and it hasn't made money since. So few, few people can afford the board, especially. Of students, even though at the student discount the board is excessive.
[Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
This city already has too many ugly buildings. One would think that since he lives here, he would want Palo Alto to retain it's character and charm, not ruin it.
Posted by David, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Sep 30, 2012 at 6:02 pm
Yes, John Arrillaga is a wealthy resident and benefactor to Stanford, and he has built numerous projects in most surrounding communities and educational facilities. All of these other cities and schools/colleges that have benefited from him WORKED WITH HIM NOT AGAINST HIM and have still come out a head where most everyone benefits from the improvement. Stanford infrastructure was damaged after the '89 earthquake, and now the campus is thriving because of John's gifts because the university worked with him for the benefit of the students and community. The city council and boards should opened their eyes and listen to what John is willing to do. Yes, he is a business man, but he is a good man too.
Posted by Resident, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Sep 30, 2012 at 6:21 pm
David,
"All of these other cities and schools/colleges that have benefited from him WORKED WITH HIM NOT AGAINST HIM and have still come out a head where most everyone benefits from the improvement."
Your attitude that if only we don't challenge "HIM" than we will be ok, is ridiculous.
The project has no merits for Palo Alto as far as I can see, no matter who the developer is.
If "HIM" really wants to build a theater, build it downtown. And if he really wants an office complex, build it farther away. And if we really needed a "transportation hub," it should be studied MUCH more carefully.
Posted by Nora Charles, a resident of Stanford, on Sep 30, 2012 at 8:09 pm Nora Charles is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online
Anyone remember that there IS already a lovely theatre downtown, sitting empty? Ah well, I have no doubt these hideous projects will be approved, as few will challenge HIM.
Posted by Neighbor, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Sep 30, 2012 at 9:14 pm
Here's a little background from Forbes about Arrillaga's partner which gives information about how they made their billions.
Real estate mogul Richard (Dick) Peery and business partner John Arrillaga rank among Silicon Valley's largest commercial landlords, with 290 acres of land and just under 3 million square feet of office space.Tenants include Apple, which leased two buildings in Sunnyvale in 2011, and Google, which leases 15 buildings from the Peery-Arrillaga firm. The pair began buying up tracts of California farmland and converting them into office parks in the 1960s. The partners sold nearly 120 buildings in 2006 for $1.1 billion.
Peery's son Dave runs the family foundation, which made grants of $1.9 million in 2011, primarily to Bay Area charities, and gave $370,000 to an arm of the Mormon church. Peery is a 1961 graduate of Brigham Young University.
Posted by Resident, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Sep 30, 2012 at 9:36 pm
Nora,
"Anyone remember that there IS already a lovely theatre downtown, sitting empty?"
A Trustee for Theaterworks is the Architect for the office complex, thus the connection to "theater."
from one of the articles
"Phil Santora, managing director of TheatreWorks, said the organization views the proposed theater as "a vibrant cultural hub open to all from morning to evening."
"We believe so strongly that this facility will elevate our ability that we're willing to raise the tens of millions required to outfit this building," Santora said.
A theater open from morning to evening?
This facility sure is "elevating everyone's ability" to do anything!
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