Three-story dental building planned for Welch Road Three-story dental building planned for Welch Road (December 31, 2004)

Number of dentists could double on 1.6-acre property

by Jocelyn Dong

More dentists may be coming to Welch Road, if a proposed three-story dental/medical office building with underground parking receives approval from Palo Alto officials.

The current dental complex at 777 Welch Road has room for about 180 occupants. The new building, being designed by the architectural firm of Stoecker and Northway, will house 378.

The Dental Plaza General Partnership plans for the 1.6-acre parcel, which is across the street from the Stanford Blood Center, come despite concerns this fall among other doctors who practice on Welch Road that their leases with Stanford University will not be renewed.

The plans call for the demolition of existing buildings and construction of a 34,750-square-foot facility. The design of the 39-foot-tall structure will be contemporary, with interlocking green, blue and clear glass tiles, according to architectural plans.

Earlier this fall, a spokesperson for the Stanford Land Management Company indicated that leases on Stanford-owned land would not expire until 2012 and 2019. It is likely that the Stanford University Hospital, Children's Hospital and Medical Center are expected to expand onto Welch Road, so some doctors could find their leases will not be renewed.

The dental building will undergo preliminary architectural review with the city on Jan. 13.

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