March 31, 2004

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Palo Alto Online

Housing proposal winning neighbors' support

by Don Kazak

A proposal to replace three old commercial buildings in south Palo Alto with housing is getting initial support from nearby neighbors.

The plan would take down 87,000 square feet of offices on East Meadow Drive near the freeway, buildings now partially vacant, and replace them with 64 condominiums.

They have been responsive to talking with nearby neighbors and trying to be accommodative," said Arthur Keller, a nearby resident. He said the project "won't tower over" the backyards of adjacent homes.

"This is an example of a developer trying to work cooperatively with the neighborhood," Keller added.

The project site at 930, 940 and 1180 East Meadow Drive is not far from where the street curves around into Fabian Way and is close to the former Sun Microsystems site where the Campus for Jewish Life and almost 400 housing units are being proposed.

"It's a way to deal with our needs for housing," said Steve Emslie, the city's planning director. "This provides a nice transition between the existing neighborhood and the commercial area."

The developer, Trumark Properties of Danville, could have attempted to build some 120 housing units on the 4.4 acres, given the zoning, but opted for a smaller project.

Fewer units mean that some residents will have backyards and garages instead of underground parking, said Ravi Nandwana, development executive with Trumark.

The proposal calls for condominiums in the 1,600-square-foot range, of two to four bedrooms, with 143 parking spaces.

By city law, 15 percent of a new housing development must be Below Market Rate, which translates into nine or 10 units for the Trumark development.

The project is scheduled for public hearings before the city's Architectural Review Board on April 15 and Planning and Transportation Commission April 28. Don Kazak can be e-mailed at dkazak@paweekly.com

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