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The environmental impacts of redeveloping a large swath of San Antonio Shopping Center have been reviewed and a draft of that study is now available for comment.
The proposal from developer Merlone Geier would redevelop a 16-acre portion of the shopping center at San Antonio Road and El Camino Real, replacing Rite Aid and Sears with 100,000 square feet of additional retail space, including a new Safeway grocery store, several shops, restaurants and large retailers. Mixed-use buildings with 350 apartments are also part of the proposal, along with a long park along the Hetch-Hetchy right of way.
Among the impacts cited in the draft environmental impact report, there are “significant and unavoidable” impacts in regards to air pollution and climate change caused by car traffic and new building construction.
Numerous nearby intersections along San Antonio Road would continue to operate with a “D” level of service rating (just shy of the worst “F” traffic rating) under the proposal. The only significant traffic impact, according to the draft EIR, would be to the Miller Avenue and San Antonio Road intersection, currently rated “F”, which would suffer “significant impacts” but could be made “less than significant” by prohibiting left turns onto Miller Avenue from San Antonio Road.
For a closer look at the 312 page report, a PDF file can be downloaded on the city’s website.
Comments on the draft EIR can be made until Jan. 14 and addressed to Mountain View senior planner Scott Plambaeck or e-mailed to Scott.Plambaeck@mountainview.gov.
Why put another grocery there when Albertson’s failed in that location and Safeway is across the street already?
The Safeway on California Street would close, and now that property is being eyed for redevelopment as well.
Yeah, I agree with the first person.Downtown is planning a grocery store, middlefield center just needs a grocer to move in, and los altos is plannings an expansion of their safeway in their downtown. No grocery shortage here if anything the opposite. What would be much better would be a movie theater. Something we are genuinely at risk of having a shortage of and it would be a far more powerful draw for the rest of the stores.
The Safeway on California Ave. is in a building that is at least 50 years old and in dire need of an upgrade that Safeway does not want to deal with. So that is one reason why Safeway must move to its’ newer location. So a redevelopement for this current Safeway location is a good idea. Will it be more condos, homes, or more retail?
As for Albertson’s, it failed as the location just seemed not to be a good draw for people. But then Albertson’s failed in this area anyway.
The Safeway Store in Los Altos has been in need of an upgrade for decades. And the city council keeps delaying the inevitable. So why would Mtn. View officials wait for that to happen.
Now if the Century Theaters are torn down for condos, homes, etc., where would the theaters relocate in our fair city?
94043 – Now tell me how many grocery stores share that zip code …
There is around seven grocer related stores in the san antonio center area that’s not counting the safeway. And also along with the theater I think a parking garage should be planned next to it so the middle grid aspect of the project can go up the corner have stores face the outer sidewalks rather than face a sea of parking. keeping it self contained does a diservice to the stores across the street.I thought pedestrian-ability was the goal after all.
If we need an additional grocer is truly needed a smaller one will do.
Back to the drawing board. The San Antonio Center is a jewel of a location. This is an opportunity for creating a model ‘green city center’ with completely improved transportation, services, shops and housing. The traffic situation can and should be completely transformed.
Its a great shape for a vibrant and exciting destination.
Lets transform it from the much used parking lot that it has been for ages.
In Mtn. View, the 94040 zip code is for addresses west of El Camino. Like for example up Grant Rd, up Miramonte and that area. 94041 is downtown, and 94043 is the area east of Central Expressway I would assume. All three zip code areas have many grocery stores, including the Milk Pail, etc. No one mentions that store at all and it too is at the San Antonio Center, along with Trader Joe. Even Wal Mart has groceries now. Mtn. View has so much in population to handle most of these grocery locations.
Remember when they built the Old Mill? It was a nice idea in the wrong time and place. The Mayfield Mall was always a nice place to go, but it didn’t survive. The San Antonio Center is a mess and could use a major overhaul. There does not appear to have been much real thought as to the planning when Wal-Mart came in and that one store alone makes the whole center a mess on that side. It would be good to have a new Safeway as the old one serves lots of people close by. I would be happy to see a new green center with businesses that cater to the neighborhood, but also draw people from other areas that would bring money to our city. Get rid of Sears, as they are not a good anchor and find some companies who will invest in this center and be profitable, but I agree that places like the Milk Pail should have every opportunity to remain. There should be plenty of parking and a well thought out traffic plan as there would be pedestrian as well as bicycle traffic and public transportation would still serve the center. It is on the corner of the best retail land as it links our city with the others on our borders and should be an impressive gateway to Mountain View.
With proper planning and thought to not only the present but the future, it could incorporate housing, movie theatres, retailers of all kinds and be a model of good land use. This is a chance to do it right and should not be lost.
The only problem I see is the cost to the public as it worries me that the only way to succeed is for the government to subsidise or get involved in ways that will cost us too much.
For everyone wanting a grandiose solution, I suggest a drive through/by “downtown” Suunyvale.
Whatever is decided, make tripley sure the “plan” can be executed.
The Santana Row model works there but it is obvious that it is not a guarantee that it works in all locations- again, the Sunnyvale example where there is insufficient demand for all of the available spaces.
As I said before on another article our current developer is a cash developer. What happened in sunnyvale is what happens when you depend on credit.
Why not move the Palo Alto Bowl (rename it, of course) to the new center? It should aim to be more of a community gathering place than just a grocery store where people would just park/shop/leave. Target should expand and provide more groceries. The Target in Cupertino has a large grocery section and their prices are quite good. I love the Milk Pail and hope every effort will be made to keep this unique and historical store in it’s place.
I agree that Sears is a poor anchor store. The store is disorganized and over-packed. It is difficult to move around in that store and find what you need. The exterior looks like a factory. Sears has not updated itself since the ’70s. It has lots of essential things but shopping there is a chore not a pleasure. I think Mountain View still needs a department store or several stores to provide clothes, appliances, household items, even furniture. Seems we are having to drive out of town more and more to buy these things.
The Sears store had plan to close it last year, and Home Depot had plan to move in the location to provide appliances, household items, even furniture that Shopper requested. However, the plan didn’t go through, and I don’t know why.
tommygee54 – I sure hope the movie theatres don’t get torn down! The “entertainment triangle” of Downtown MV, the theatres, and Shoreline are part of what makes this part of the city hum.
I think the biggest question before the city council is how to support two ‘downtowns’ in a city of Mountain View’s size. Many of the plans for San Antonio Center (for example, moving the farmers’ market there) run the risk of posing a threat to downtown (and I suspect Los Altos may be keeping a close eye on San Antonio as well for how it might affect their downtown).
How do we redevelop San Antonio to provide services to that side of town, while retaining a separate character that will not decimate the historic downtown?
Having spent my growing years in Mtn. View and having experience with the San Antonio / El Camino intersection, I can make a strong recommendation based on my experiences in the Denver Metro area.
I strongly recommend that someone in the planning stages of development invest in a plane trip and a rental car and look at the similar development along two roads; Colfax ( which is similar to El Camino Real ) and Wadsworth ( a longer version of San Antonio Road ).
Your planners will get a mix of both developed and empty properties mixed with good and bad examples of development. On the east side of Colfax is the area where Stapleton Airport used to be; that area is in the middle of redevelopment and ( surprise ) a little detour takes you to the Denver version of Hangar One I have been talking about.
I recommend taking plenty of notes and pictures. THEN talk to the Denver and surrounding cities Chamber of Commerce to get an idea as to the 5 W’s and an H on developing a winning combination for San Antonio/Caltrain/VTA ( you get the picture ) hub.
Hello Catherine, hey I too hope that the movie theaters do not get torn down for housing. And you are right about this part of the city humming with lots of people coming over to this part of Mtn. View.
Hey if Palo Alto can have two downtowns, why not Mountain View? But one thing we do not need is for more businesses to leave town or to close up so that we have to shop at other malls outside of Mtn. View. For us long time residents, we do remember Mayfield Mall, and even the Old Mill Mall area. But now is the time to really upgrade the San Antonio Mall—to make it right. And if the Century Theaters have to close for that housing issue, then the Theaters must relocate to the New San Antonio Mall.
I suggest that a study be performed to determine why and for what type of stores Mountain View residents leave town, the results will help the city planners guide any new development in the city.
In town shopping adds to our tax base and cuts traffic.
I go out of town to buy electronics, furniture, cars (BMWs are too expensive), and clothing.
You sure don’t need to leave town for electronics when Best Buy, Radio Shack, Sears, Costco, and even Target are at the ready. Don’t forget we have a Toyota dealership, and clothing is a good buy at Ross and Marshall’s. What we don’t have is a luxury grocery store such as Draeger’s, Andronico’s, Molly Stone, etc., and I think the Middlefield Center would be the perfect place for one.
I’d like to see a large Macy’s that sells furniture (most of the stores don’t) go into the San Antonio Center. Then other stores will follow, and maybe at that time Safeway will get the lead out and finally do its much needed remodel.
Elkah,
For electronics, no store compares to Fry’s. The Toyota dealership is actually in Palo Alto. Whole Foods is a reasonably close luxury grocery store just across El Camino, but technically in Los Altos.
For the article, I don’t understand the issue at Miller. There is no intersection between Miller and San Antonio. Miller intersects with a tee at Del Medio.
Oops, I see the intersection at Miller now. Cars rarely use it. I see pedestrians cross there often. But cars cut through the parking lot next to the Chinese restaurant on California. The intersection between California and San Antonio is the really congested one.
Question – Is replacing the Century Theatres with housing really being considered or is this just hypothetical? I hope the latter. Ever go to the Mercado movie theatre in Santa Clara that shares a parking lot with stores? Lovely theatre but parking is a nightmare. I’d love having a movie theatre in walking distance of my home but don’t think it would work in SA Center.
Shoes. Can’t buy a decent (all leather/well made) pair of shoes in Mountain View. Kids shoes, adult shoes, sports shoes. Marshalls is hit or miss with selection/sizes as they are a discount store who sell mostly overstock.
I hope they don’t get rid of the Theaters on Shoreline. Of course houses or condos are much easier to develop. Just build them and they are sold. No worries about a lease. However too much housing is not good as you then don’t have the retail and jobs for them. This increases traffic and impacts local schools. I am also against more houses at San Antonio Center. San Antonio Center parking lot next to the Walmart and GameStop is full most of the time. Trader Joes parking is almost always full soon after opening. Hope there is lots of underground parking that makes it into the San Antonio Center design. Also Caltrain being nearby does not relieve the traffic congestion as Caltrain does not lead to some sort of job factory or magical employment center.
To be sure, Mountain View has plenty of commercial zoned space. The problem isn’t quantity, its quality. Shoreline Theaters, the San Antonio complex, and the El Camino corridor are all existing areas that could stand improvements in design. Successful development isn’t just about having the all the right stores in a given city, but combining and mixing them so that shopping becomes more than just a grudging necessity, but an enjoyable experience that contributes to quality of life.
I may not shop a lot of the boutique stores at Santana Row, but having a developed public space (complete with water features), with a movie theater and restaurants, and plenty of underground parking makes this a winning combination.
The sum, is greater than the parts.
I have been to the Century theatre they opened back in the 80’s they are in a sea of parking with not much walking to shops or places to eat. I have been many places where they theaters are a draw to bring in shops and places to eat and other services. It seems San Antonio is right for this balance. A new Safeway would be great i have shopped at the old one and I have seen new ones be built. Shopping has changed so has eating, build a place that is good for walking and biking in and of course the auto. muilt level center instead of the single story layout that we have grown to like. Go to Bay Street in Emeryville is is a good idea.