Council members aren’t thrilled with unique building

BY EMILY MIBACH
Daily Post Managing Editor 

Palo Alto council members gave a lukewarm reception to a 75-foot building on California Avenue which has an architectural style inspired by baskets woven by Muwekma Ohlone. 

“I don’t love the exterior, but that’s me,” said Councilwoman Julie Lythcott-Haims, before pointing out that it wasn’t up to the council tonight (Sept. 15) to make any firm decisions on the building’s look, only to give feedback to architect Zoltan Pali.

Lythcott-Haims wasn’t the only council member to express some distaste in the original architectural style during the council’s first crack at the proposed retail and housing project at 414 California Ave., where the Bank of the West was and between the Cobblery and Country Sun Natural Foods. 

Councilman Pat Burt said the proposed design is a “statement” but not necessarily what he wants to see on Cal Ave. as the city works to reenvision the area. California Avenue was closed to cars at the beginning of the pandemic, and council voted to close the street permanently on March 10.

Burt said he wants to see something “innovative” but within the context of Cal Ave. 

“I’m not an architect, so I don’t know what that looks like, but I will know it when I see it,” Burt said. 

Councilman Keith Reckdahl said the building is a “little much” but said the community may get used to it. Reckdahl, along with most council members, took issue with a portion of the proposal that suggested that the rooftop decks would only be available to certain residents, not everyone who lives at the building. 

“I don’t like the idea of being able to buy open space. That should be prohibited,” said Councilman Greer Stone. 

A woman who only identified herself as Tatiana from Country Sun, spoke during tonight’s meeting, expressing concern about the project’s plans to build right up to the edge of its property line with the grocer, possibly blocking a much loved mural on the side of Country Sun. The new development also has plans to “activate” Mimosa Lane, which Tatiana said the store uses for deliveries. 

Council members expressed concerns about deliveries along Mimosa Lane being impacted and whether there are enough drop-off locations on the property for residents to use Uber or get deliveries. There are 74 parking spaces planned for the project. 

The proposed development would have restaurants on the ground floor and 37 apartments on buildings two through six. Pali said the owner of the property is interested in having high-end dining in one of the restaurants and the other restaurant would consist of an idea where two chefs would duel via their menus each night, with customers deciding whose food is best. 

The building is owned by an LLC set up in January that is registered to Emmett Kilgariff, 65, of San Jose. Kilgariff works as a vice president at NVIDIA, according to his LinkedIn.

The council didn’t vote, next steps for the project is for Pali to submit a formal application and then the project will be reviewed by the Architectural Review Board and the Planning and Transportation Commission.