BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer
Palo Alto City Council tonight (Aug. 11) gave their enthusiastic support for an eight-story, 82-unit apartment building in downtown, despite pushback from a couple of neighbors who don’t like the building’s height.
Mayor Ed Lauing called the project at 332 Forest Ave. “the poster child for exactly the kind of project that we need in downtown,” where the city is looking for more housing density.
Councilman Greer Stone said he liked how developer Alex Giovannotto and architect Rob Steinberg integrated the building with the neighboring Casa Real that was built in 1930 at 360 Forest Ave.
The two buildings have similar architectural styles and a shared garden, and they could add a path that connects Heritage Park to Gilman Street.
“That’s the type of architecture we should be promoting … This is an exciting opportunity,” Stone said.
“I like how the old and new meld together,” Councilman Keith Reckdahl said.
Ignacio Ortega De Mingo, who lives in a condo at 707 Bryant St. with his wife and two kids, said he doesn’t want a concrete wall next to his home.
“This is not New York City,” said Judith Swope, who lives in the same building. “The owners of our condos will be subjected to two plus years of noise, dirt and construction plus the loss of sunlight, views and privacy.”
Housing advocates pushed council to support the project because it’s close to stores, jobs and Caltrain.
“It is exactly this kind of project that enables our residents to live a healthy, enjoyable and suitable lifestyle,” resident Aimee Ashton said before listing downtown buildings that are taller than the proposal for 85 feet.
Tonight’s meeting was for council to give initial feedback on the project before Giovannotto submits a formal application.
These buildings are to architecture what junk food is to food… junk architecture. Hilarious to hear the council members desperately trying to pretend they know anything about architecture when they don’t even have the vocabulary to critique these thinly disguised Khrushchevkas. Council members come off sounding like a bunch of bumpkins trying to sound sophisticated sampling Ripple at a wine tasting.
This is a huge loss for those currently living at 332 Forest avenue. It’s such a shame that this article fails to mention that 16 affordable housing units currently sit on the property, which will be demolished for the greed of a huge management company. There is a vacant lot sitting behind the current building that is suitable for additional high density housing without the demolition of the existing apartments, but sadly the developer vrent is prioritizing profits from redeveloping the entire site over our community members already living at 332 Forest Ave.
It’s also worth noting that the existing 332 Forest apartment building, built in 1925, has been deemed potentially eligible for the National and California historic registry but is not yet on them. It will be a shame to see developer greed wipe out such a beautiful building when an open lot sits right behind it ready for a separate building.
No
There is nothing historic about the apartment building at 332 Forest. Give me a break.