The commission did the right thing. For those opposing the plan, you will be very sorry if this plan does not get built, because even higher density and taller buildings will be built in its place. This is by far the best offer. Forget the excuse of historical preservation. The state government is extremely concerned about losing population, and is forcing locals to build higher and denser. Should appreciate that Sobrato is still a considerate local developer.

This is not about Sobrato being a philanthropist but more about how the city had little public input. Meetings were held behind closed doors. IMO the city attorney was anxious about a possible lawsuit if Sobrato did not get his way. Yes he could have retained Thomas Foon Chew’s Cannery and included an underground garage but chose not to do so. For this native Palo Alton this is an unfortunate outcome.

What is always missing from the city and the planning committees is any thought of open space and park space for all of the thousands of new people they keep adding to the city. The city is woefully behind in the amount of park space that their own comprehensive plan calls for for the number of people already in the city, and yet they blithely continue adding thousands and thousands more human bodies with no place for them to find a tree, see grass or shoot a basket as their housing and lifestyles add to the total pollution level in the city. Build a larger park in all of this mess!

The rendering looks great. Still has the look of a cannery but in a modern way and a portion of it will be preserved for historical purposes. Seems like a win win to me.

The longer this site remains in an unbuilt state of being that then puts the pressure on every other possible location for building. WE need to get these big projects going and finished. Glad this is moving along. We need to move on completion for all of the projects that are waiting for review.