Remember when San Antonio shopping center was the premier shopping center for miles around? Mayfield Mall was the pride of Santa Clara Valley. The Old Mill was a wonderful shopping center disguised as a work of art. For sure, Mountain View's retail shopping area has been neglected for far too long (especially if you are a shop-aholic).

Did this article refer to "high density homes"? Hold your horses folks, a "home" is a cottage on a five acre lot... with a view! There is no such thing as a high density home, period. With poorly planned high density housing, we could end up with traffic congestion and other problems of LA.

WATCH OUT FOR FIRE @ MINTON SITE LIKE 1995

I agree with you Douglas - I too remember when the San Antonio center had more department stores and was a great place for a family shopping trip; after visiting a few stores, we kids would beg to go to the Menu Tree. I remember shopping and enjoying the Christmas decorations at Mayfield Mall. I enjoyed shopping and having lunch in the Old Mill's lovely environment. I remember how much we liked bringing out-of-town guests there to dine. It was frustrating to see many of its spaces vacant, though - I remember how we lamented that if they only had a nice "anchor" department store attached, they probably would have had more than enough business to rent out all the shop spaces.

I agree that the idea of a walkable, "green" redevelopment of the San Antonio center has great potential, if well designed. I also am concerned, though, that crowding too much high-density housing into the San Antonio location could result in worse problems than increased traffic. And would they start charging shoppers to park in the garages?

Look at Hillsdale they kept the multi food area and had several companies occupy the area with their specialty food. I also miss the menu tree... Heck food is always in need... As well as bringing in families to shop... I think we should bring back some of San Antonio's History by bringing back "The Memu Tree" idea with stores around it...

Think about peoples needs, then grow stores to match needs. We lost out minds to the multi-stores that carry everything but the salespeople don't even know what their selling anymore... I just a job, they do.
I remember when you had to learn a product to sell it, it was hard word but we did it. Now you ask a question and no one knows how to answer it. They just sit at the cash drawer and take your money...

Also take a look at the Olsens Cherry Sopping center in Santa Clara, a great place to shop, but limited parking... Just a thought!!!

I wish we weren't re-developing with "high-density" housing... We are looking to buy a single family home, but the new high-story houses with no back yard are terrible... If the city continues to go in this direction we will seriously consider moving. The theory that high-density will provide affordable housing is bogus--more housing at 1million with no back yard!! Stop the maddness!

I am looking to move - this will make already crowded - too crowded - MV is becoming a city with all it's noise, parking, issues, etc... I would live in SF if I wanted that experience.