Arts and Innovation District

Update

On June 3, 2013, the City Council will receive a staff presentation outling options for moving forward iwth a community engagement aand master planning process for the proposed Arts and Innovation District Area (27 University Avenue). This area is located between El Camino Real and the Caltrain right of way and includes the transit center (see map below). Specific land use concepts and transportation solutions will not be proposed on June 3rd. However, staff is proposing to begin a community input process that will allow the public to be involved in creating a realistic and implementable land use and site design concept for this area. A staff report with additional details will be posted below and on the City Council website the week of May 27th and will be available here http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/cou/council_agendas.asp. 

Since December, staff has worked in a limited manner on this project, and has focused attention on gathering techical data and formulating options for moving forward with the community engagement.

Brief Background

The  master planning effort is being led by the City of Palo Alto. The planning was anticipated in the Stanford Hospital Projects approval, in which the City sought funding in the Development Agreement to plan for future uses and improve connections between Downtown, Stanford, and the Stanford Shopping Center and better utilization and integration of the Transit Center. In 2012, in conjunction with a concept proposed by developer and philanthropist John Arrillaga for use of Stanford lands, the City identified this as an opportunity to initiate planning for this area. The latest version of the master plan concept (as presented to the Council on December 3rd) included four office buildings, an improved transit center, a new performing arts theater for TheatreWorks, the relocation of the historic Julia Morgan Hostess House to be a part of El Camino Park and a number of other related improvements. 

The initial Arts and Innovation District Master Plan concept was presented to the City Council on September 24th.  Following the September Council meeting, staff engaged the Planning and Transportation Commission, Architectural Review Board and Parks and Recreation Commission in a series of public meetings.  Community feedback was received during all of these meetings and throughout October, November and December.  A number of substantial changes were then made to the Master Plan, including lowered building heights, improved open space and plaza areas, enhanced bicycle and pedestrian connections, and improved connectivity between Stanford, the Transit Center and Downtown. Design options for relocating the Julia Morgan building to El Camino Park were also drafted for Council consideration.  On December 3rd, the Council considered this revised Master Plan, and whether this Master Plan concept should be placed on the ballot as an advisory measure in June 2013.  The Council declined to move forward with a June ballot measure, and directed staff to develop at least two alterative land use concepts for the Arts and Innovation District Area.  Following the Council meeting, the Historic Resources Board reviewed the project on December 5th.  On June 3rd, staff will provide the Council options for moving forward with community engagement and master planning. The staff  report and other information will be posted below and on the City Council page the week of May 27. Previous documents and other information can also be found below.