New plans have been filed for the residential project at 500 East 4th Avenue in San Mateo, San Mateo County. The application shifts the once mixed-use application to create 353 homes above retail. Windy Hill Property Ventures is responsible for the application.
A project plan does not accompany the new details. According to the city, the preliminary filing is currently in-review with city staff. If pursued further, Windy Hill will have to file a new formal pre-application, conduct a neighborhood meeting, and undergo a planning commission study session.
Outdated rendering of 500 East 4th Avenue mixed-use design revealed in January 2023 illustration by Arc Tec
The infill could rise around seven or eight floors with 353 homes above 1,200 square feet of retail and a 202-car garage. The application will utilize Senate Bill 330, with reporting by the San Mateo Daily Journal suggesting that Windy Hill could use the Builder’s Remedy, a colloquial term for a legal provision to allow housing projects that have a certain amount of affordable housing to expedite construction in cities with non-compliant Housing Elements.
The previous iteration for 500 East 4th would be an 85-foot tall structure spanning 298,090 square feet with 131,590 square feet for offices, 70,060 square feet for housing, and 96,440 square feet for the 260-car double-floor basement garage.
500 East 4th Avenue outdated project design, illustration by Arc Tec
Demolition will be required for five structures, including two pre-1888 wood frame houses, a 1932-built former market, and two low-slung mid-century commercial buildings. A former gas station at 524 East 4th Avenue has already been demolished. The property is just four blocks from the city’s downtown Caltrain Station and the surrounding urban core.
The new pre-application is being reviewed by city staff. Should Windy Hill do the alternative project, a new formal pre-application, neighborhood meeting, and Planning Commission study session would be required.
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Stop with the “step-backs”! There are 5 different wall planes on one side of that building!
this looks ugly