The formal application has been filed with a minor plan increase for 2610 El Camino Real in Santa Clara, Santa Clara County. The update now aims to replace the existing Moonlite Center strip mall with 601 dwellings and open space. The Toll Brothers are responsible for the development.
Construction across the 14.34-acre property will produce three apartments and 159 three-story townhomes spanning approximately 1.35 million square feet. Two of the apartments will offer 136 and 140 market-rate condominiums, while the third apartment complex will create 166 rental units of affordable housing. The apartments will have two-level garages lined with ground-floor active use facing the streets.
Moonlite Center apartments street view, rendering by Van Meter Williams Pollack
Moonlite Center aerial overview, rendering by Van Meter Williams Pollack
According to the project application, Toll Brothers aims to create a vibrant housing complex that “incorporates a multimodal transportation network consistent with the City’s vision focusing on complete streets, allowing for safe and convenient transportation suitable for all modes of travel.”
Previous plans shared by Toll Brothers show the design by Van Meter Williams Pollack. The podium-style apartments feature a heavy level of articulation through material changes and balconies to add a facade of human scale to the large structures. Details about the townhomes have yet to be published.
Moonlite Center open plaza between the two condominium complexes, rendering by Van Meter Williams Pollack
2610 El Camino Real, image by Google Satellite
The developers submitted plans for the site using Senate Bill 330 to streamline the approval process. The estimated cost and timeline for construction have yet to be shared. The application does specify work will occur between 7 AM and 5 PM, with a range of 50 to 250 employees onsite during active work.
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This is great. Now just build a bunch more developments like this next to it so we can have a continuous walkable/urban stretch of El Camino.
Over 40 units per acre! Good!
Long overdue. Particularly for this low-density area that is well served by expressways and transit.
What transit? The VTA 22, VTA 522 that is almost never on time?
NIMBYs are unusually angry about this project, which means it is awesome and badly needed.
Their arguments are “But I like that Rite-Aid is nearby!!”
Well, a Rite Aid in the lobby of a multistory building is impossible by the laws of physics…
This complex has been about 80% empty for about a decade. Look at the emptiness of the parking lot in the Google Satellite photo.
It is only kept minimally functional by medical-related offices. The small coffee shops are identical to a dozen others within a mile.
Are you talking 15 mins exclusively by walking or transit? Because there are lots of grocers within 15 mins drive/bike.
Hamilton Safeway, El Camino Sprouts, Target, Smart & Final are all within 5 mins drive / 10 min bike.
Homestead Grocery Outlet is 6 min drive, 13 min bike. Tons of smaller ethnic grocers within that range too.
The old General Plan would allow about 39 units per acre with a bonus available. So as ugly as the front is, the density isn’t out of line from the old general plan.
I still find it odd this is considered a transit corridor based on a line of empty busses running up and down ECR.
Please keep me informed.
I’m sixty Four and have been in the same place for over twenty years. Looking to move to back to Santa Clara but having a very difficult time.
Retired from a hospital helping others. Now just wishing for a little help with a low income housing. So maybe I can take a trip once in awhile and have the energy to help others again.
I love to give because we all need hope from others to be okay.
Be complete humans. Thanks for your support.
Toll would not be involved if there was not mega money to be made. Nothing wrong in single family homes, as they too have been in short supply. A complex of this magnitude would permanently change the local environment.
It would be nice to see small retail and recreation mixed into this development. As far as “modern transportation ” right now there is only a bus line. The existing center is 100% full (except for the gap left by Rite Aid) with small businesses who will be displaced with no alternatives.
so how many parking spaces per unit? Guess I’ll have to check where my doctor is going to relocate to hope it is not the Mt View location!
It’s only empty because they wanted to tear it down. There is no grocery store within 15 minutes, centered on this location, which sucks. I like the housing, but not having grocery is worse.
Are you talking 15 mins exclusively by walking or transit? Because there are lots of grocers within 15 mins drive/bike.
Hamilton Safeway, El Camino Sprouts, Target, Smart & Final are all within 5 mins drive / 10 min bike.
Homestead Grocery Outlet is 6 min drive, 13 min bike. Tons of smaller ethnic grocers within that range too.
As someone who literally lives in this intersection, our doctor/pediatricians office is right there. So that means they are also kicking out our beloved Palo Alto Medical Center? We don’t need more expensive condos. If anything, make it all affordable homes or at least just an In&Out. We don’t need to kick out the small businesses that have been there for years.