After prompting the creation of two city building ordinances and more than a decade of protests from neighbors, the 16-year-long construction project at 1693 Mariposa Ave. has certainly made its mark on Palo Alto's Southgate neighborhood. Nearby residents, however, will soon be able to let out a sigh of relief. With interior finishes now being wrapped up, the all-concrete, three-domed home is finally near completion.
The home boasts a 3-foot-thick concrete floor, 18-foot-tall domed ceilings and 6- to 10-inch-thick concrete octagonal walls. Drawing from the expertise of international structural engineers, inspection supervisors and his own son — the project's superintendent and designer — owner and contractor Randy Feriante called the home completely unique: "A project like this has never before been built anywhere."
This ambition ultimately became the cause for the holdup.
Additional city inspections were needed due to the project's unusual and complex design, which slowed down progress, according to Feriante. The home's concrete domed shape also made it difficult to meet California Fire Code. Feriante said he went through three different sprinkler contractors to find one who could formulate a satisfactory plan.
Jim McFall, an architect and Southgate resident for 38 years, said that the house's design is hard to categorize into any specific style or tradition.
"Architecturally, I have a difficult time describing it," he said. "There's three primary concrete domes, several raised flat roof sections and a very prominent fascia that wraps around the house. It's a combination of forms and shapes."
According to Feriante, the project's highly insulated construction also cost more than twice as much as that of a conventional wood structure. According to Zillow, the newly built 4,330-square-foot home, which includes four bedrooms and five baths, was valued at an estimated $4.34 million as of March 28.
The home's eccentric design came at another price: over a decade of neighborhood complaints.
For years, a green fabric-covered chain-link fence surrounded the property, concerning neighbors and evoking rumors of criminal activity.
Former Palo Alto Mayor Gail Woolley, a Southgate resident for 53 years, said she often heard murmurs about people allegedly trespassing and loitering at the perpetual construction site, which borders Peers Park. The property's visual blight caused even more concern among residents.
"Nobody liked it. Everybody felt it was an eyesore," Woolley said. "People thought it was an imposition, too. In terms of people who bought into the neighborhood, they didn't expect how long construction would take."
McFall echoed Woolley's sentiment, remembering various times over the past 16 years when construction would start and stop without much progress being made.
"During those years where nothing was happening. The property was fenced off, and it looked really bad," he said. "There was concern about it being somewhat attractive to kids who might want to hide out somewhere and be able to actually go inside the house."
In 2013, residents took action, organizing and appearing before the Palo Alto City Council. Their coordinated effort resulted in the creation of a new city law (Ordinance 5227) requiring a renewal application be made within 30 days of the expiration of a project's building permit and providing penalties for non-compliance.
Under the law, however, such permits could be extended indefinitely as long as the holder completes enough work to advance to the next level of inspection within six months. The city soon after issued a new permit for the Mariposa project; however, Woolley asserted that, for two years, Feriante kept the permit alive by completing just enough work to undergo an inspection every six months.
With their patience running thin, neighbors met with the city frequently during the ensuing years. In 2016, city Ordinance 5389 answered their demands for more stringent enforcement. The new code set a 48-month time limit for developments to reach a final inspection.
Yet, the chain-link fence still stood tall around the Southgate home's unfinished, exposed frame. In preparation for yet another meeting with exasperated Southgate residents in 2018, then-City Manager James Keene threatened to levy at least $77,000 in fines against Feriante unless he finished the job, according to local news accounts. Keene told city staff that he presented the property owner with a contract and a demand for work to proceed and referred the matter to code enforcement, according to minutes from an August 2018 council meeting.
Feriante said he doesn't recall any threat or fine.
"There were development department and permit fees when the project restarted. The fees (were) like it was a new project," he said.
"I think those city regulations have been helpful in getting the project started up again," McFall said. "I've been very pleased with the city. They've been proactive in monitoring the construction and being on-site with the intent of encouraging and maybe pressuring the owner a little bit to get the job done."
But for Woolley, Palo Alto's building codes have still fallen short.
"There have been other cities who have dealt with this (type of situation) better," she said. "I wish there was some way for the city to, perhaps through legal action, do something to force completion."
Feriante praised Palo Alto's planning department for working with him every step of the way to help move such a complex project through the process.
"Now that the house is done, the current inspection services manager is making arrangements to have his staff tour the building," he said. "This is something they can be very proud of, and they were there every step of the journey."
Seeing the end in sight, Southgate residents share in Feriante's excitement about the nearly finalized home.
"It's been a long time coming, so I think it's good that it looks to be very close to being completed," McFall said. "I'm very happy that they're finally finishing the house."
Comments
Registered user
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 5, 2023 at 9:15 am
Registered user
on Apr 5, 2023 at 9:15 am
Is this article a warning or a celebration?
Registered user
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 5, 2023 at 12:17 pm
Registered user
on Apr 5, 2023 at 12:17 pm
Where is all the square footage? Is the house mostly subterranean? In this case, that would be a plus for the neighbors.
Registered user
Monroe Park
on Apr 5, 2023 at 2:18 pm
Registered user
on Apr 5, 2023 at 2:18 pm
The next article like this should be about 3561 Park Blvd. That one has been stalled for a few years too. The demo permit was issued in 2018.
Registered user
Old Palo Alto
on Apr 5, 2023 at 4:01 pm
Registered user
on Apr 5, 2023 at 4:01 pm
This house has been 'under construction' for far longer than 16 years - more like 25. I lived down the street for many of them. The hole was dug and a basement started before 2000. This guy should not be celebrated - he was a neighbor's worst nightmare.
Registered user
Monroe Park
on Apr 5, 2023 at 5:08 pm
Registered user
on Apr 5, 2023 at 5:08 pm
@Bill Glazier,
I have an aerial photo from 2006 that shows the old house looking very intact. Google street view from 2008 shows the foundation of the new house, and it doesn’t change much until the photo from 2017. So this project started between 2006 and 2008. It pretty much stopped when the Great Recession hit.
Registered user
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Apr 5, 2023 at 5:13 pm
Registered user
on Apr 5, 2023 at 5:13 pm
Astonishing story - I had no idea as I don’t really know that neighborhood and haven’t been by there. I feel sorry for the neighbors.
Registered user
Mountain View
on Apr 5, 2023 at 6:16 pm
Registered user
on Apr 5, 2023 at 6:16 pm
Wow. I used to bike past there as part of my commute 7 years ago (I kept a folding bike in my car since it's so hard to park near University Ave.) They had some really unusual building material that caught my interest but I forget what it was. I don't even recognize the latest picture or the one on Google StreetView.
Registered user
Southgate
on Apr 5, 2023 at 9:03 pm
Registered user
on Apr 5, 2023 at 9:03 pm
Hi @paulbc the basement retaining walls and level 1 walls were formed using ICF (insulated concrete forms)
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Old Palo Alto
on Apr 6, 2023 at 2:08 am
Registered user
on Apr 6, 2023 at 2:08 am
It's taken this developer 16 years to finish a 4,000 foot single family home? That's ridiculous. The Hoover Dam was completed in six years, so what's this Randy's excuse?
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St. Claire Gardens
on Apr 6, 2023 at 10:32 am
Registered user
on Apr 6, 2023 at 10:32 am
I invite every one to see the spectacle of 255 Campesino Avenue on the corner of Ramona Street. 50 years of waiting for the finishing of the second story. A true blight on the neighborhood. The city's code enforcement officer can't seem to get anything done, including trimming all the bushes overhanging the sidewalk. Maybe because he's friends with the owner? Who knows?
A true blight affecting the neighborhood for over 50 years. Trash in the yard, at least 5 junked cars on the property, etc...
Registered user
College Terrace
on Apr 6, 2023 at 2:08 pm
Registered user
on Apr 6, 2023 at 2:08 pm
I am sorry that the neighbors had to endure this lengthy saga. Now that this construction is completed what do we see? This structure is sadly out of a science fiction movie or worse a cult’s lair.
Registered user
Old Palo Alto
on Apr 6, 2023 at 3:57 pm
Registered user
on Apr 6, 2023 at 3:57 pm
@ALB
You're so right....right out of a science fiction movie. Or the illegitimate child of the Flintstone House off of 280.
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Barron Park
on Apr 6, 2023 at 5:18 pm
Registered user
on Apr 6, 2023 at 5:18 pm
I always saw this as the sister house to 628 Maybell Ave, which similarly took forever to finish. I'm glad to see both finished after so many years.
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College Terrace
on Apr 6, 2023 at 5:27 pm
Registered user
on Apr 6, 2023 at 5:27 pm
The house wasn't lived in for a long time even before it was demolished, I think at least as far back as the early 1990's. Always a mystery as to why this dear little house was abandoned and left to the elements for so long.
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another community
on Apr 6, 2023 at 9:19 pm
Registered user
on Apr 6, 2023 at 9:19 pm
Is nobody going to comment on how atrocious looking the house is and how is doesn't fit into the rest of the neighborhood? This is a mess.
Registered user
Midtown
on Apr 7, 2023 at 10:01 am
Registered user
on Apr 7, 2023 at 10:01 am
Not sure why this is such a big deal.
Isn't this in keeping with the "Palo Alto Way"? Taking forever to do some simple thing.
How long have people been asking for the lights at Town & Country to be fixed?
/marc
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Evergreen Park
on Apr 7, 2023 at 12:18 pm
Registered user
on Apr 7, 2023 at 12:18 pm
@AMRW
I agree that the house isn’t very attractive. However, it looks so much better than it has for the past 15 years that most people who live near it are probably sighing with relief. And there are plenty of houses in Palo Alto that don’t fit in with their neighborhoods. I guess that’s the price we pay to not live in a controlled development. And following the lead of others in this thread, I’ll bring up a different blighted property that is nearer to me. I’m thinking of the old Stanford Terrace Inn on Stanford Ave near ECR. It’s been closed for a few years, and the property has fallen into disrepair, at least the exterior. Does anyone know what’s going on?
@marc665
I agree that Palo Alto has a problem making decisions about both simple and difficult issues. However, I take some issue with your example. I suspect that the two lights on Embarcadero at T&C have been adjusted several times. But they probably can’t do much with the light on ECR since it’s controlled by CalTrans. Anyway, I also believe that this is an issue that has no possible fix. There is just too much traffic in that area to make it work for everyone - or even a large fraction of the people who drive thru there.
Registered user
Midtown
on Apr 8, 2023 at 5:42 pm
Registered user
on Apr 8, 2023 at 5:42 pm
I walk Palo Alto on a daily basis. When I was young I ran Palo Alto on a daily basis. Yes the house construction on Mariposa has been an eyesore and neighborhood junk heap for far too long. But in last two years I have watched with great interest as this environmentally sound house went through the final stages of construction. My son and husband and I discussed the construction objectives with the designer and builder. On the spur of a moment as we asked our questions and noted that the building seemed almost complete, the owner gave us a tour. I also abhorred the years of neglect at the site and felt some outrage for the neighbors. From what I have been told the finishing touches will be completed in less than two weeks. I encourage the curious to drop by for a tour. Interesting and instructive. Judy Richardson
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another community
on Apr 8, 2023 at 7:05 pm
Registered user
on Apr 8, 2023 at 7:05 pm
Looks like a bloated bomb shelter.
Registered user
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Apr 11, 2023 at 10:15 am
Registered user
on Apr 11, 2023 at 10:15 am
The house's looks make a lot more sense now, with the top-heavy Prairie look that the bold fascias give it. I like some of the design details. Others are so goofy that I giggle at them every time I walk by. The wire-and-post fence that will look unfinished until it's completely hidden by the hedge (in five years or so). The glass sheets instead of railings, that won't distract from the building's lines as long as they're cleaned frequently. The slick marble paving that will be treacherous in the rain after a bit of moss grows on it. The front door is attractive. The glass blocks evoke styles from the 1930s through the 1960s.
Registered user
Adobe-Meadow
on May 8, 2023 at 6:05 pm
Registered user
on May 8, 2023 at 6:05 pm
The house looks like a doctor's office, maybe dedicated to breast enhancement, and doing something that "has never been done before and that costs twice as much" isn't exactly moving the needle on new building methods. It's just sad.