Meeting Tomorrow For 660 University Avenue, Palo Alto

The Palo Alto Planning Commission is scheduled to review updated plans tomorrow for 660 University Avenue in Downtown Palo Alto, Santa Clara County. The updates include a slight increase in residential capacity for the six-story apartment complex, with a few minor design alterations. Mountain View-based Smith Development is responsible for the application.

Screenshot660 University Avenue pedestrian view, rendering by KSH Architects

The latest version eliminates office space from the sixth floor, retaining around 1,984 square feet of ground-floor office space and increasing residential capacity from 63 units to 70 units. The team is now adding private balconies for all dwellings. KSH Architects is responsible for the design.

The 77-foot-tall structure is expected to yield around 111,070 square feet, including 59,800 square feet of housing, 1,980 square feet of office space, and 36,580 square feet for the two-level basement garage. Parking will be included for 78 cars and 88 bicycles. Unit types vary, comprising 28 studios, 33 one-bedroom units, and nine two-bedroom units.

660 University Avenue seen from Byron Street, rendering by KSH Architects

The project has been slowly progressing through the city since its first iteration was filed in late 2021. Over the last four years, the developer has filed at least 12 different plan sets under the same project application, as well as a separate application invoking the Builder’s Remedy.

The Builder’s Remedy is a provision of state law that allows residential projects to bypass local zoning controls in areas where the city or county’s Housing Element has been deemed compliant with state law. For 660 University Avenue, the Builder’s Remedy iteration would rise six floors and create 88 apartments.

660 University Avenue, image by Google Satellite

Tomorrow’s meeting will review a revised Final Environmental Impact Report. City staff are recommending that the Planning Commission recommend approval of the project to the City Council. The hybrid meeting is scheduled to start tomorrow, Wednesday, October 8th, at 6 PM. The event will allow participation in person and virtually. For more information, visit the meeting agenda here.

The estimated cost and timeline for construction have yet to be shared.

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