An eight-story mixed-use development that would add hundreds of homes at the intersection at Castro Street and El Camino Real in Mountain View is nearing city approval. It would sit just across the street from a six-story housing development that is poised to replace a Chase Bank branch.
GPR Ventures, a real-estate investment firm, is looking to build a 140-unit condominium complex with thousands of square feet of ground-floor retail space at 881 Castro St., replacing three commercial properties and four residences.
With the Chase Bank redevelopment, the two projects would add nearly 450 residential units along a major transit corridor and key gateway to downtown Mountain View, marking a big change for a part of the city that is currently composed largely of single-family homes and low-rise buildings.
Dubbed “Castro Commons,” the project at 881 Castro St. cleared a significant milestone Wednesday afternoon at a hearing in which the city’s zoning administrator recommended that the City Council approve the development. However, some of the conditions of the development are still being worked out, according to Zoning Administrator Amber Blizinski.
“My approval is based on what is posted online and the application materials reviewed by city staff, with the reminder that my decision is a recommendation to the City Council who will take the final action on the development permit requests,” Blizinski said.
The City Council is expected to vote on the project at its Dec. 9 meeting.
Castro Commons covers a roughly 1.4-acre site and includes Gateway Park, a patch of green space at the northeast corner of the Castro Street and El Camino Real intersection. The project extends north for nearly two blocks along Castro Street, stopping short of Yosemite Avenue, and east to Hope Street. The developer plans to close off Fairmont Avenue between Hope and Castro streets to vehicle traffic and turn it into a pedestrian paseo.
“[Fairmont] would be abandoned for this brand-new paseo that connects Castro and Hope and the neighborhood as well as the downtown,” Ken Rodrigues, the project architect, said at the Oct. 22 hearing.
The paseo would include retail and outdoor seating, Rodrigues said, adding that a second smaller paseo would create a pedestrian pathway connecting Fairmont to Gateway Park. “We hope it will be very active,” Rodrigues said.
The development also includes retail along Castro Street, with close to 10,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space overall.
The bulk of the project however is dedicated to ownership housing, with plans for 140 condos, including 22 below market-rate units for very low-income and moderate-income households. The development also includes a two-level underground parking garage with 200 spaces, as well as spots for 164 bicycles.
Since the project includes affordable units, it qualifies for waivers in development standards, allowing for a taller and larger building. The developer is planning for the building’s roof to be up to 92 feet tall, although it would vary, rising to just three stories on the Hope Street side, which is directly across from one- and two-story homes.
Peter Given, representing GPR Ventures, noted that there are still several items the developer is discussing with the city, but did not elaborate on them at the meeting.
“It’s been a long-time coming to this project,” Given said. “We’re very excited to be here today and coming up in December.”
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This is a very good project. Owners usually better! Less moving in and out.
Great to see that M.V. Is building higher in the downtown area. Its sounds like a great project for a key downtown MV gateway. Finally those 1 story outdated buildings will get replaced by something more useful. Its the only way to continue the success that downtown has had. Downtowns need to hve greater housing/retail densities in order to attract more people, restaurants, stores & services. All that helps ensure that we have a lively downtown that serves its community & that we can be proud of.
This would be a really cool place to live! Totally support.
These are some good houses for people who can afford $2 MIllion homes.
Looks great, more housing is badly needed especially near downtown.