Really disappointed by this -- two long-standing and unique downtown MV places going for a glass box with offices that will be used by a handful of people and a vague restaurant concept (Scratch II that serves Tied House beer?). There are two surface parking lots directly across the street from this.

Great proposal, too bad Transvideo is not involved in this partnership as well.
The 900 Villa Street development next door is beautiful(Facebook/Whatsapp Bldg.) but disappointing. That developer never delivered the public coffee house on the first floor, it still sits vacant.

Having George Aviet as a partner in this Minkoff proposal next door will certainly deliver a great dining experience and a truly great ground floor tenant serving wonderful food and some Tied House beers perhaps. I was really looking for a boutique hotel encompassing Chez TJ years ago when the 900 Villa Street was originally developed. Maybe the Transvideo owner would be interested in a partnership as well.

The block is perfect for a well thought development considering the new transit station and the truncation of Castro Street.

Sorry to see these places go, and sorry for the hard-working staff in both establishments. Both of these buildings make Mountain View unique and beautiful. Mountain View doesn't need another office building. It can't even fill the ones it already has.

It needs to include the parking as described. The developer of the 900 Villa building swore it would have plenty of parking - and there's none.

George deserves a great retirement, so I am glad this could happen.

A lot of the wonderful experience at Chef TJ's is the ambiance of the old house with the small rooms for intimate dining. Doubtful I will continue to celebrate special occasions in a large restaurant. Sad to see it go and a large, new building replacing these iconic restaurants. Big, new, and modern does not beaDF5t unique and charming.

Hoping to donate the Victorian house to a local park? Where did they get that idea - from the developer of the office building next door perhaps? It worked for him - he got to build his non-descript offices without having to do anything with his historic house - because he offered to "donate" it to Cuesta Park Annex (he knew that idea wouldn't fly) and then let it rot and fall apart. Friends on the council almost certainly helped this project along.
Suitable places to relocate antique structures are almost impossible to find but the "donor" likes to give the appearance of being some sort of community benefactor. City council - please say NO! NO to this proposed development and NO to giving up precious park space. The character of our city is being lost to greed.

Awww, what a bummer. As other commenters have said, these two buildings are unique and historical. It would be a real shame to see them go. It seems odd to obliterate these pieces of Mountain View's history in order to build yet another multi-story office complex. Can't a less destructive location be found?

MORE office space? I thought that was the root of the "jobs imbalance" problem that is cited to justify all that new high-density residential. Too many jobs, bringing too much traffic, which is then supposedly fixed with more high-density.

Can the city council please just learn to say "NO" to office developments?

There's going to be nothing left with an ounce of character in downtown MV. Tied House is one of my favorite buildings-- love the small windows and the quirky decor. Another glass box is not what we need.

Good plan. I support.

Tied House has changed a lot over time and is not close to what it used to be. The service levels at new competition (Steins and Eureka) are having a good effect at forcing Tied House to change their game. The existence of Tied House in its present service state is a testament to how lazy its regulars at The Corner are - and we are much fewer in numbers on any given night than we used to be.

Decades ago, one of the primary allures of OMV was the Tied House -- a microbrewery within walking distance(and occasionally in my younger days, "stumbling" distance to home). It had a good vibe for the time. But alas, the quality in brew, eats and service declined -- and other "beer hall" venues popped up nearby to suck away TH business.

It wouldn't be a tremendous loss for the TH to drift away, however its single-story, warehouse-like building -- and the homey Chez TJ structure next door -- give OMV a little character that's being eroded by the glass towers and mega-structures going up around town. Growth, in the form of new office buildings and the businesses they may draw, may be good in general, this resident thinks that, looking through a wider lense, the city and OMV would do well to keep those two structures as they are, regardless of who or what business occupies them. Again, we're talking about character here. Think of the the busy, if not bustling, cities you've visited and found that a little piece of the old enhances the character and attraction of the new.

Watched the city council last night, during something called a study session, where it listened to public input then deliberated on this matter. All but two members seemed to be okay with razing the Chez TJ and Tied House buildings in favor of another office building. This, even after someone from a local-history group, who really knew her stuff, cited the historic significance of each building.

Have to admit, it's disheartening to see a government body entrusted with doing what's best for the city -- long-term, with a broad vision -- can't see the the proverbial forest from the proverbial trees. It seems council members could benefit from being reminded of their obligations.

Does anyone share this opinion?

Chez TJ and The Tied House are significant historical resources that help make Mountain View the lovely place it is.
I am only 21 years old and have already seen so many buildings/houses that I love demolished and it upsets me every time. I have spent my entire life growing up walking past these two buildings in particular. I would be beyond sad to see them torn down (or even moved for that matter because it is simply not the same).
I made so many memories in the Tied House and have been waiting for a day special enough to have dinner at Chez TJ. I won't be able to do this if it is demolished by developers to make room for more office buildings.
It is not acceptable to allow developers destroy historic buildings simply because they have the financial capital to do so.
In the state our world is in right now, it is important to take a step back and evaluate how to plan with a clear vision of what the community needs and desires.
This step back starts with SAVING these two buildings from becoming unneeded office space.

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I grew up in MV and this city is changing beyond recognition. I understand that change is good and we need to see development move with demand but another large office project is not what's appropriate for this area. We have plenty of larger buildings vacant next to transit in the Whisman Station and OMV areas. Keeping the two buildings and re-leasing them to tenants that appreciate the smaller scale and the community it is surrounded by would benefit this area the most. I don't understand how you can plug a 40k sf office building between two residential properties off of our main strip (Castro). If any project should erect on these two properties it should be moderately scaled housing and include the third site nextdoor. Everyone including the council knows we need more housing downtown...