New permits have been filed to entitle the eight-story residential development plans for 350 homes at 3997 Fabian Way in Palo Alto, Santa Clara County. The filing uses the Builder’s Remedy provision of the state’s Housing Accountability Act to increase residential capacity from the 2.15-acre site. Juno Realty Partners is the developer.
3997 Fabian Way with greenery overflowing from the amenity courtyard, rendering by TCA Architects
3997 Fabian Way ground-level amenity space, rendering by TCA Architects
The 87-foot tall structure will yield 489,140 square feet with 347,440 square feet for housing and 141,690 square feet for parking. The garage will occupy floors one and two, providing space for 349 cars and 385 bicycles. Unit sizes will average 816 square feet with 92 studios, 156 one-bedrooms, and 102 two-bedrooms. Of the 350 apartments, 70 will be designated as affordable to low-income households.
TCA Architects is responsible for the design. The circuitous floorplan will maximize sunlight exposure for residents, wrapped around two podium-top amenity courtyards. One courtyard will include a pool. Facade materials will consist of stucco with three colors above a two-story brick veneer base.
3997 Fabian Way aerial view, rendering by TCA Architects
3997 Fabian Way entry view, rendering by TCA Architects
The initial plan was drafted by Architects Orange to be five floors with 290 units. The first plan, which would have been just five floors tall, had already drawn ire from city officials. The Palo Alto Weekly described it as an ambitious project “higher than another large and dense development on the block.” Now that 3997 Fabian will rise eight floors, it will be around half the height of the city’s tallest project, the twin-structure 15-story Palo Alto Office Center.
Speaking with the newspaper, property owner Jeff Farrar of Far Western said, “I recognize the tremendous need for housing and the need to locate housing close to jobs in an effort to ease traffic congestion and environmental impacts. I’ve come to believe that this may be the right time and ideal location for a new apartment project.”
3997 Fabian Way, rendering by TCA Architects
3997 Fabian Way existing condition, image via Google Satellite outlined by YIMBY
The property is located by a commercial retail district along East Charleston Road and near a Highway 101 ramp, close to the Googleplex, Google’s East Charleston dome, and the Shoreline Amphitheater. The San Antonio Caltrain Station in Mountain View is just ten minutes away via bicycle. Demolition will be required for two existing structures.
The estimated cost and timeline for construction have yet to be established.
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Drawn the ire of city officials! The builder’s remedy shouldn’t be required as Palo Alto ought to be welcoming the replacement of some terrible surface parking for much needed housing in a central location. I hope this project gets built!
It’s only seven stories.
The first 2 stories are the Brick parking garage, then 5 stories of Apartments/Condos.
Huge fan of this project! New housing is desperately needed in that area. Lots of jobs nearby and Palo Alto is an excellent city for bicycling. The 300+ bike spots is great to see!
Rock on! Now let’s build 50 more of these.
They can’t complain, they were given a choice to come up with a plan. It is a good place for multi-unit housing, next to 101, and close to Caltrain.
Might happen, might not. Builders Remedy has yet to clear judicial hurdles. And financing is the typical choke point. Put your pom poms down for a bit.
Seems like a good test of the new laws if this can be built as there was quite a bit of backlash when the original plan came up in local planning meetings and the opposition in this town is a loud and litigious bunch. Hope this get’s done, that empty lot is a serious eyesore. The San Antonio road corridor could seriously use a good bus line as more and more developments come online.