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Downtown Parking Garage Project

Project Description

The City intends to construct a new parking garage at parking Lot D, an existing surface parking lot located at 375 Hamilton Avenue in the Downtown Business District. The project is part of the 2014 Council Infrastructure Plan and is intended to supplement parking inventory as part of the City’s efforts to address parking and traffic congestion.

Primary elements include:

A new five-level above-ground public parking garage over one basement parking level, providing approximately 324 spaces, and associated site improvements.
Approximately 2,000 SF of single-tenant commercial space fronting Waverley Street, to be used as commercial retail space for new or existing businesses.
Other proposed options are being considered include incorporating a bike station and solar panels

Scope of Work

The project is currently in design phase. No work is scheduled. Please check back for updates.

Upcoming Meetings

There are currently no upcoming meetings scheduled.

Project Status

On February 11, 2019, the City Council certified the EIR by adopting the Resolution and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP). The Record of Land Use Action was approved for 3 years and the project is on hold until after the City returns to the Policy and Services Committee for further discussion on the downtown parking management strategy.

The City of Palo Alto has completed the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR).

On July 19, 2018, the Architectural Review Board recommended approval of the project. The public comment period for the Draft EIR closed on July 2, 2018. Staff and the City’s consultant are preparing a final EIR addressing comments submitted during the review period for Council action on the project.

On June 21, 2018, three members of the ARB reviewed the project, and the public had the opportunity to provide testimony regarding the Draft EIR that was published on May 18, 2018.

On February 15, 2018, the Architectural Review Board reviewed the project.

HRB (Historical Review Board) and ARB (Architectural Review Board) study sessions were held on August 24, 2017, and September 7, 2017. Conceptual project plans were presented to HRB and ARB to receive initial comments from the Board members.

The Draft Initial Study and Notice of Preparation were circulated to the State Clearinghouse, and notice was provided under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) on May 8, 2017.

On April 11, 2017, parking garage options were presented to Council. Council directed staff to begin design for a parking garage with five above-ground levels and one basement level with retail space.

The City entered into a contract with Watry Design, Inc. (Watry) in December 2016 to provide design and environmental assessment service services for a new Downtown Parking Structure Capital Improvement Program process (PE-15007). The contract with Watry includes preparation of environmental documents, schematic designs, design development packages and construction documents for a new parking garage at surface parking lot D.