Last month, Brookfield Properties submitted a preliminary application for a mixed-use development at 678 Concar Drive in San Mateo. The project, designed by KTGY, replaces a previous proposal approved in 2020. The new project pivots from a more intensely commercial development to a more affordable housing-focused plan.
The 14.5-acre project site is currently home to the Concar Shopping Center, including Trader Joe’s, Peninsula Ballet Theatre, Ross Dress for Less, The Pantry, T.J. Maxx, and 7-Eleven. Unlike the previous plan which kept many of the commercial offerings on-site, the new plan will include only Trader Joe’s and 7-Eleven. However, the new plan includes an increase from the previously proposed 73 affordable units to a much larger 223 units, just over 25% of the total 869 units to be built.
Site Plan, Image via KTGY
The reconstructed commercial buildings are planned on the north side of the development, along Concar Drive. The three-story townhomes will also be located on the north side, in between the commercial buildings. Meanwhile, the southern side of the development will hold the six to seven-story apartment buildings.
Sample Townhome Elevation, image via KTGY
Sample Apartment Elevation, image via KTGY
Sample Commercial Elevation, image via KTGY
Transportation amenities proposed will include 1022 parking spaces, with 93 set aside for public access to the commercial buildings. The site’s close proximity to both Highway 101 and State Highway 92 gives it excellent vehicle access for both residents and customers. Meanwhile, its 9-minute walk from the Hayward Park Caltrain Station gives it great access for commuters.
Commercial Building Rendering, image via KTGY
Site Location, image via Google Earth
Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail
Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews
The current conditions SUCK. There’s nothing salvageable about the old strip mall.
Regarding timeline, I hope they replace the Trader Joe’s before demolition. That shop was an asset forsure.
KTGY often has good stuff, but this plan leaves a lot to be desired. Is a shame losing some retail. It’s not like San Mateo is short on commercial space, but everything is so sprawled out. I’ve tried biking from one to the other and it’s just safer taking the train to get from downtown to the big mall. Anything along El Camino kinda sucks to walk along and the road is certainly not pedestrian/bike friendly.
I hope the final site plan fills in those green spaces with decent parks and paths. Precariously throwing buildings across an open site feels like shoving a square peg in a circle hole. I wish more thought went into building communities like these. It all comes down to what makes the plan most accessible to cars and how to fit cars best on-site. People always come second. If the other was true, we would take things like daylighting and building orientation more seriously. Rework the site a bit, I’m sure the buildings can be consolidated better and we’d gain more park space from it.
I won’t even mention the architecture of the taller structures. I guess be happy they are pursuing denser housing options… Bldgs 13-16 getting sandwiched by two roads and getting almost no yard out of it seems really pitiful.
100% agree with Drew, the current parcel has been an eyesore for many decades now. I used to work at the Crossroads Bldg way back in 1998 and everything around there was crap, except for the now closed San Mateo Marriott Hotel and the Peninsula YMCA across the street. Rebuilding the 7-11 and the Trader Joe’s first would be a smart move by the developer.
I also wish the developer would build even taller, as a 14.5-acre site could easily yield 2,000+ residences, and now that the City of San Mateo has upzoned a lot of the TOD parcels, much higher density should be persued. At least it’s better than a huge parking lot!