Core Principles
Based on the Ravenswood / Four Corners TOD Specific Plan, the East Palo Alto General Plan, and Community Input
Proposal
Respect what came before us
Honor and respect the previous engagement processes, planning principles, and the General Plan; recognize and respect local history
Create a vibrant, mixed-use “Main Street”
Combine a wide range of uses in an inviting and complimentary way, including retail, restaurant, housing, employment, community-serving uses, and public open space; create conditions to support other local businesses to grow and thrive
Create places to live and gather
Build a place that can be both a “home” and a “destination;” create mixed-income housing and community gathering place for all of EPA, including a new public “town square”, a public plaza/courtyard, and neighborhood amenities
Improve mobility and access
Create a safe walkable, bikeable, transit-friendly destination that is easy to move through and around, connected to the neighborhood, and improves this “heart” of the city for all East Palo Alto residents to access and enjoy
Create jobs and local revenue
Create an employment and economic engine that provides opportunities for small business and tax revenue for the City and schools
Building on these Core Principles, our proposed vibrant, mixed-use “downtown” at University and Bay includes key highlights such as:
- Public space and community amenities that can be enjoyed by all East Palo Alto residents, such as a new town square, central plaza, and community space, such as a new East Palo Alto Library.
- Mixed-income housing that can serve a diversity of income levels, from affordable to workforce to market rate.
- A “main street” of ground-floor retail along Bay Road, addressing a desire for retail, restaurants, and neighborhood-serving services.
- Employment uses, including life-science and laboratory space, which can provide a diversity of employment opportunities for East Palo Alto residents.
- A design that is pedestrian-friendly, bike-friendly, and easily and safely accessible by all modes of transportation.
- Amenities like public open space and neighborhood amenities within a few blocks of nearby housing, businesses and community institutions.
- Buildings that respect their neighbors and the neighborhood through a combination of setbacks, trees and vegetation, and attractive architecture and screening.
- Sufficient parking at grade on internal surface streets, in a parking structure, and through one level of underground parking.
Project Summary
Consistent with the prior planning principles, the General Plan, and community input, we plan to create and catalyze a vibrant, mixed-use “downtown” at University and Bay. At the heart of the plan are a new public “town square” and a central public plaza surrounded by ground-floor retail, restaurants, and community uses, including a new East Palo Alto Library directly across from City Hall.
Details
*Maximum heights are at or below General Plans allowances
Project Timeline/ Next Steps
Moving forward, we intend to continue a robust community engagement process and work to develop this site in fulfilment of the vision articulated by the East Palo Alto community.
*Additional milestones will be added to the timeline as the project moved forward