We'll see what happens when the economy goes into total meltdown sometime in the next 18 months.

Since Safeway on California street will lose their land lease in 2016, the City Council needs to decide something for the San Antonio Center. But then Safeway has 4-1/2 more years in which to move. So I guess the city council has and needs more time to discuss the issue of what it wants to do with the redevelopement project.

I attended the first part of the meeting and it really felt like the developers thought that we are chumps who would simply love their new approach. THEN they magnimously offered 10 below-market units...out of 325-350 units total?!?! That is ridiculous in a city where "affordable" housing is sadly not very available. About 1/3 of the units will be studios! How many "families" will that serve? I did not stay for the hashing over details but this is one that bears watching!

ronit bryant...good for you....too bad you weren't in congress when pelosi rammed the healthcare down our throats.

Thank you Ronit! Thank you Jac! I'll be happy to have a big new Safeway in walking distance of my house but happier if the walk is safe and pleasant. And thank you MVV for reporting on this. I didn't see anything about it in the SJMN today. And 10 below-market-rate apartments is way too few with 80 new jobs just at Safeway, many of them low-paid. I'm for more jobs and less traffic and that requires more affordable housing.

I am very disappointed in the coucil's decision not to approve the project. This project would bring jobs to MV, bring up our failing housing market, create more opportunities for people to "walk" and not drive. What is wrong with our council? I think the "people" should have the vote, not the council making decisions as to what is right or wrong for OUR neighborhood.

What strikes me is the lack of consideration for the neighborhood kids commutes.

Kids in the San Antonio center units (as well as in the Crossings and along Showers drive) will go to schools in Los Altos (Covington/Almond/Bullis Charter School for elementary, Egan for middle school and Los Altos High for high school).

The council should use the redesign as an opportunity to provide a Safe Route to schools for these kids. The council should work on improving safety (special lights, better marked crosswalks, safer median islands ....) to cross El Camino but also provide a safe walking/biking path (along San Antonio or through the new Center) from the Crossings to these crosswalks.

As some council members pointed out, the new Center will be here for the next 40-50 years, let's make sure our Mountain View kids don't have to wait that long to finally get a Safe Route to their schools.

M.V. should issue GO or tax revenue bonds for this and finance it since it has AAA ratings!

Safe Routes- While I applaud your intent, there is never going to be a safe route across El Camino Real. I just don't see a way to make what is essentially a freeway pedestrian safe, and nothing anyone does to it is going to make me willing to let my child cross that street every morning by themselves.

@Spaghetti Freddie - I would never consider letting a young child commute by himself/herself either even in the safest environment. Parents should bike or walk with them no matter how safe their commutes would be.

I would find it ironic that the new development would be called "The Village" while no kids can safely walk or bike to their schools.

Everyday, at least 8 kids accompanied by 1 parent from the Crossings scooter to Bullis Charter School through the current shopping center. It is an awesome sight to see.

El Camino is not a freeway. It is actually one of the least dangerous sections of the route. The worst parts are where cars zip into the shopping center at the many driveways.

ECR through Menlo Park is a nightmare for drivers. Menlo Park in general is a disaster to drive through... which is why the El Camino corridor is such a headache for the city, and why downtown struggles to keep businesses. It is tough to get to except by train and foot. If the city is trying to model San Antonio after the Kepler's area, the first thing they need to do is scale back their grand ambitions for the current level of tax revenues. MP is a difficult place to succeed as a business, as would MV if they adopted that model. The new Safeway in MP is great, but to believe it is anything but a big grocery store with a big parking lot in front is silly.

"We feel the project has been really poorly designed and mismanaged," said Forrest Linebarger, CEO of Vox Design Group, calling the project "another strip mall" dominated by parking lots and cars.

- I'd like to see more information about what exactly Vox (who has my respect) sees as problematic about this project.

"...there is never going to be a safe route across El Camino Real."

- There will be a crossing guard at El Camino just like there is for all the other schools. El Camino may be wider but Grant Road is right up there in terms of traffic volume and dumb drivers. My children and many others cross Grant Road every day to walk or ride their bikes to/from Graham, and are 100% confident in their ability to be on the alert for "just turned red" light runners and distracted drivers.

- Thank you Council for refusing to approve a project until city planners and Council have had the opportunity to closely examine any further design changes. Yes, developers do have a tendency to feel they know what's best for cities in which they've never lived but hope will result in a lucrative contract.

typo, meant to say "...and we as parents are 100% confidents in our kids ability...."

Does anybody know why San Antonio has 4 traffic lanes and a nicely landscaped median from 101 to Central Expressway and from El Camino to Foothills.... but 6 traffic lanes and a minuscule median with zero landscaping from Central Expressway to El Camino? More lanes improve traffic flow but what's the point of speeding traffic flow for such a small distance, especially with a traffic light for Fayette Drive right in the middle.

Right now, that section of San Antonio Road look like an eyesore compared to the rest of that road and even compared to El Camino (landscaped median).

As part of the redevelopment, the City should really do some work on that portion of San Antonio. Drop a pair of traffic lanes and use the reclaimed space for a larger and landscaped median, as well as larger sidewalk/bike lanes....

This is the normal way the Council deals with such matters: the developer makes their grandiose proposal, the council balks, the developer cries poverty but scales it down anyway.

As for "below market" apartments--this is a sham. Below market DOES NOT mean "affordable" by normal folks--just that it's a certain percentage below the going rate. Over 300+ apartments, offering 10 at below market rates does not justify the developer asking the city to foot the bill for the greenspace.

Trust me, the developer will come around and do what the city asks within some reason. They have too much riding on it not to.

The changes made it "as clear as mud"

LOL
City Council
"The worst thing is to vote on something and we don't know what we are voting on," Bryant said. "That I will not do." You have done this on everything you vote on, stupid is a stupid does.

Yet lets certify a EIR report as true to the county and state on a lumber yard project and approve the project design as safe and meeting city code for traffic and parking regulations in the county/state.

Which was nothing but FALSE and filled with lies! Why anyone would listen to these people is beyond common sense.

I cannot wait for an earth quake to level the structure, city hall that is.

How is this just not another modern day strip mall? And what's with that ridiculous tower in the corner? What purpose does it serve? And bocce ball? Who the hec plays that? How safe is a park surrounded by a street in the middle of the largest shopping complex for miles?

I agree... pretty underwhelming all around. Good job city council.

Was laughable watching this meeting on tape. Everyone is a design expert. Cant wait to see how council messes up this project.