BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer
Palo Alto City Council tonight (April 20) grappled with the transitions between taller downtown buildings and neighborhoods with single-family homes.
Developer Prabhas Kejriwal wants to build a seven-story building reaching 92 feet in height at 910 Webster Street, between the 10-story Channing House and one-story homes.
Neighbors including former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer have pushed Kejriwal to shrink the building.
“The proposed density is simply too much for this location. The proposed structure is too tall and would loom over nearby single-family homes,” said Mayer, who lives around the corner on Addison Avenue.
Neighbor Deborah Dooley said she would lose sunlight on her property from 4 to 8 p.m.
“A project of this scale will fundamentally alter the character of this neighborhood,” neighbor Catherine Cohen said.
The 70-unit building would replace a two-story apartment complex that has 24 units.
Councilman George Lu and Councilwoman Julie Lythcott-Haims supported the project tonight.
“I’m pleased to see something this beautiful as downtown in-fill,” Lythcott-Haims said.
Councilmen Keith Reckdahl, Ed Lauing, Pat Burt and Vicki Veenker said the location is good for more housing, but they want to see the neighbors get more sunlight.
“This is not a transition. This is just a wall,” Reckdahl said.
“Be polite to your neighbors,” Lauing said.
“I like the direction, I just don’t think we’re quite there on the form,” Veenker said.
Vice Mayor Greer Stone said he doesn’t like that Kejriwal will tear down 24 apartments, where rent is around $3,500, and replace them with more expensive units.
“It’s frustrating to always hear apartments be treated as temporary dwelling units. They’re homes, and for some, these homes carry sentimental value,” said Stone, who has rented an apartment in Palo Alto for 10 years.
Lauing encouraged Kejriwal to include more subsidizing housing in the project.
Tonight’s meeting was a chance for council to give feedback on the plans before Kejriwal submits a formal application.
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