Application materials were filed earlier this week for the demolition and redevelopment of 1655 El Camino Real in San Mateo. The site is currently occupied by a large grocery store, but developers at Align Real Estate are hopeful it can become as many as 396 units of new housing.
The nearly 3-acre site would be completely demolished to be replaced with a new ground-level grocery store building, topped by a six-story housing complex. The current plans will also preserve some parking for both residents and shoppers.
Of the nearly four hundred units, 55 will be income restricted, allowing the developers to meet state requirements for streamlining the application.
Early building designs show a classic podium base structure, with a split upper housing complex on either side of a podium courtyard. Both sides are to be clad in a green siding, with large windows and inset balconies on corner units. The two main housing structures will be connected by arial walkways.
Align has something of a history with proposals for Safeway redevelopments. As per the SF Chronicle’s reporting, the developer also has four ongoing proposals for similar projects in San Francisco. Some of the projects are being favored as innovative redevelopments of underutilized space, while others are facing community pushback.
The project at 1655 El Camino Real would certainly be considered a major shift from the current site and the surrounding area. However, its position directly on San Mateo’s main commercial corridor and its close proximity to the Hayward Park Caltrain Station make the site a strong candidate for an increase in density.
1655 El Camino Real Current Site, image via Google Street View
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I have despised this parking lot for so long. The treed area to the left hosts too many shady folk; the sidewalks can’t accommodate wheelchairs; the people turning off El Camino pose such a hazard… So so much improves the quality of life in this area by simply repurposing outdated urban planning with proper use types. Grocery stores are one of the most sensical things to densify.
Please, just provide some bike parking for the grocery store component.
God I agree, I used to live 2 blocks from here, walking that stretch of El Camino sucked, the parking lot was sketchy as hell (people-wise) and dangerous as hell (car-wise).
This location is great because it’s a few blocks from the Caltrain station and one block from the 92 on-ramp. I think it will have to remain at least partially car-centric, but maybe they could make the roads between this development and the caltrain station a little more pedestrian friendly.
Also, that map is hilariously wrong, this location is in San Mateo right next to 92, not in Belmont.
396 units and some parking for residents. I’m sure the neighbors will appreciate the additional cars parked in front of their house.
The rendering above for 1655 El Camino Real suggests a considerably better architectural design than the regrettable mediocrities that have become the norm for development proposals. That’s not saying much. So why are development proposals so badly designed? Why are so many of them so bare bones cheap that putting up a decent building is almost impossible?