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It only takes a quick look at a map to see that Mountain View’s Terra Bella neighborhood has less park space than other parts of the city. That could soon improve though as plans move ahead to build a public park on San Rafael Avenue, near the junction of U.S. Highway 101 and state Highway 85.
Last month, the City Council unanimously approved a payment of about $105,000 for the demolition of a vacant two-story home at 917 San Rafael Ave. Including overhead costs like project and construction management, the demolition’s total price amounts to roughly $222,000.
The city plans to consolidate the property with two adjacent lots at 909 and 939 San Rafael Ave. to make way for a 2.4-acre park, according to the March 24 city staff report.
Mountain View spent roughly $24.8 million to acquire the three properties. In 2022, the City Council authorized the purchase of 909 and 917 San Rafael Ave. for approximately $10.3 million and $8.5 million, respectively. Two years later, the council approved buying 939 San Rafael Ave. for about $6 million. At the time, city staff estimated that designing and building the park would cost another $7 million to $9 million.
The Terra Bella area has less than 1.5-acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, according to a recent city analysis. Historically, Mountain View has aimed for 3-acres of parkland per 1,000 residents.
Major housing growth is also planned for the area around San Rafael Avenue. This includes a 108-unit affordable housing development at 1020 Terra Bella Ave. and a 303-unit housing project at 1001 N. Shoreline Blvd.
When the City Council approved the purchase of 917 San Rafael Ave. in 2022, the property had a house, garage, storage shed and workshop on it. Staff recommended razing the structures to prevent the property “from becoming an attractive nuisance.”
Similarly, the city plans to raze a roughly 9,200 square-foot office building at 939 San Rafael Ave. Demolition is expected to begin this fall, according to last month’s staff report.
On the final parcel at 909 San Rafael Ave., a private company is currently leasing a 13,800 square foot office building, according to city spokesperson Lenka Wright.
“Once the design of the new park is completed and approved for construction by the City Council, the lease will be terminated and the building will be scheduled for demolition as part of the park construction,” Wright said in an email.
The “park development process for the entire site” will start this fall, the staff report said. Actual park construction is expected to begin in fall 2028, Wright said.
Last year, when looking for a suitable site for an outdoor pickleball facility, city staff floated the possibility of putting courts on San Rafael Avenue. However, the plan was scrapped in the face of substantial community opposition. Residents at the time urged the city to keep plans for a park. The city has since entered into negotiations for an interim outdoor pickleball facility at an undisclosed location in the eastern part of Mountain View.
The park ratio for the Stierlin Planning Area (which includes Terra Bella) is only about 0.4 acres/1000 residents if you don’t include school fields, one of the lowest in the city.
Still, $30M+ for a park is not wise. That’s an extraordinary number for the amount of use it’s likely to get. How many picnics and community events will it take to realize $30M of value?
That neighborhood already has a 2acre San Vernon Park and direct access to Stevens Creek trail. They are also It was silly to not put pickelball there. Yes they are building more housing there, but even with the extra 1000 or so residents, this park more than meets those needs. I think it’s fine since the developers contributed money for the land.
Everyone always overlooks the giant 5 acres of grass nextdoor at Shenandoah too. This neighborhood complained for no reason. They have plenty of park space. And they all moved there….with the existing parks in place. You can’t go and now complain you need more park space (except to accommodate the new apt buildings).