The revised plan is a victory for Responsible Growth in Marin, an organization with 900 members that was created to fight the Costco. The requirement for Conceptual Review was initiated in 2005 as a means to allow both the public and the City early input on a project, before plans are fully developed. The site is designated as mixed use in the 2040 General Plan. San Rafael Join us for the next meeting of the Policing in our Community series: 3/8/2023, 6:00-8:00pm, Albert J. Boro Community Center at Pickleweed Park or Virtually. Mon - Sat: 11A - 7P. Merlone Geier presented the new plan to members of the group this week. Since the announcement last spring that Northgate could become housing mixed with retail, there have been about two dozen meetings with various stakeholders. The Commissions focus is on land use matters (ie traffic, noise, parking, land use compatibility). Before the Business Journal, he wrote for Bay City News Service in San Francisco. That would be followed by construction for retail and residential uses. More information on the project is atcityofsanrafael.org/northgate-town-square. Exclusive: Stunning photos show Yosemite National Park under 15 feet of Warriors treating Andrew Wiggins with understandable patience, but his Map shows stunning improvement in California drought, Map shows which parts of California exceeded entire years worth of rain. Join us for the next meeting of the Policing in our Community series: 3/8/2023, 6:00-8:00pm, Albert J. Boro Community Center at Pickleweed Park or Virtually. The Design Review Board voted 4-0 . That drove the decision to reconsider its use for housing as well as retail. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal), The former Sears store at Northgate Mall is seen in San Rafael on Thursday, March 11, 2021. The popular clothing store Forever 21 is reportedly closing its location in Northgate Mall in San Rafael, California. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. He has since expanded his focus to explore housing and development issues throughout Northern California. No upcoming events. Conceptual Design Review is meant to provide an informal critique and evaluation of a projects basic design approach. It's the largest of three shopping centers in San Rafael called Northgate. sends student to hospital, Heres how much rain and snow is on the way this weekend, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). The development team for Merlone Geier Partners, including staffer Stephen Logan, reminded the group that the original plans for the site with a Costco were disliked by the community. It's the largest of three shopping centers in San Rafael called Northgate. 0. Wife of missing Bay Area radio host says Jeffrey Vandergrift will not Last chance to see: Bay Bridge lights turn off on Sunday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein is hospitalized in San Francisco with shingles, California extends deadline to file 2022 income taxes to match IRS decision, Going to Tahoe this weekend? Andy Neff, a representative for Merlone Geier, confirmed that. Thats what the retailers want these days, is exterior access, said Stephen Logan, vice president for development in Merlone Geiers San Diego office. . Situated 20 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Northgate Mall today features an anchor lineup, a Century Theatres, a variety of specialty stores, services and restaurants. Slide 1 of 2. But Jenny Silva said, We need to be able to grow higher. The new proposal, on the other hand, includes many elements residents want: housing, community gathering spaces and an improved theater. Notice of Completion State Review Period Start 12/9/2021 State Review Period End Is government-run social housing the solution to the Bay Areas affordability crisis? Phase 1 would also include the construction of a town square near the center of the project site. Specials Shop Gift Cards Salon Locations Services FAQs News Home Login Account. It is the only enclosed regional shopping center in Marin County. Northgate Mall. The applicants have applied for this proposal on their property and the City will evaluate the proposal for consistency with the Citys General Plan and Zoning Ordinance and evaluate whether the proposed project is consistent with the current City regulations required for this site. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. The Thursday Marin Farmers Market is known as the local chef's market welcoming premier chefs from around the Bay Area seeking out the freshest ingredients of the season. View photos and contact a broker. During the pandemic, we found out very quickly that tenants with exterior-facing entrances survived and thrived better in this environment.. Live verbal commenting will be available during the session. This Study Session is an opportunity for early Planning Commission and Design Review Board project feedback on land use and design and allows early opportunity for public input. Improve the visual connection to the mail by incorporating some of the existing material palette i.e., (more stone, less concrete). Northgate will not have an office component, but people migrating from workign from home or a remote location will be able to go to pool decks, fitness areas and outdoor spaces, Logan said. So, there is no further action on the part of the city, unless we receive a formal application. We are taking community input and new trends in retail to transform Northgate into something special for San Rafael." The mall, which first became a premier shopping destination for Marin County when it opened in the 1960s, has had to adjust through 50 years of economic changes. On Tuesday, September 14th at 7 p.m. there will be aJoint Planning Commission and Design Review Board Study Session on the Citys YouTube Channel. Start my search; . Reach him at jquackenbush@busjrnl.com or 707-521-4256. The purpose is for the City through a public process to provide preliminary feedback on the proposed design direction. The state has mandated that San Rafael approve 3,220 new residences by 2031. The revised plans, which were submitted Monday, are under review, said Leslie Mendez, the citys planning manager. The Pre Application process allows an applicant to receive: 1) preliminary feedback from the City, including code requirements, 2) capacity review from utility providers, and 3) roadmap for any subsequent permits or processes required by the City to process the formal application. The project came under public scrutiny this week during a joint study session of the Planning Commission and the Design Review Board. The current zoning for the property does allow housing, in addition to commercial development. In North Hollywood, the Noho West center has residential next to office and retail spaces. Bill Carney of Sustainable San Rafael called for building as many affordable residences as possible. What is the next step in the process for the project? Why are other locations not being considered (near Target or the former Orchard Supply Hardware)? Merlone Geier plans to hold virtual community forums about the redevelopment master plan on March 30 and April 20. The mall would be converted to an open-air shopping center, while some of the existing retail space, including the former Sears building, would be knocked down to make way for apartments. Jessuina Prez-Tern of the Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative said the project must move forward to help San Rafael approach goals for housing. We have heard from residents that they want a vibrant town center environment and much-needed housing as part of Northgates future, said Stephen Logan, Merlone Geiers vice president of development. At this point, we will not update this site, until we receive a formal application, or indication that one will be filed. An emerging plan to redevelop the Northgate mall complex in Terra Linda is garnering mixed reviews, with some San Rafael residents saying it needs to include more housing and others less. Northgate gives you what you want, the way you want it. View Dining Options J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Logan said the new buildings would blend into the Eichler aesthetic, with pitched roofs and simple, traditional materials such as metals, woods, glass and brick. Get hot deals, the inside scoop and special promotions all available through our exclusive profiles. The plan calls for the mall movie theater to be renovated and expanded to include an Imax theater. START SAVING TODAY GATHER ENJOY INDULGE DINING RETAIL ENTERTAINMENT Open for dine-in, takeout and delivery We're here when and where you need us. There are some significant changes to the project based on feedback that the applicant team received from the community, meaning the public, and decision-makers, the boards and commissions and staff, Mendez said. Project planners Tricia Stevens and Christopher Beynon said public feedback is needed before the next step, drafting the projects environmental impact report. A new plan to redevelop the Northgate mall in San Rafael calls for building 1,356 apartments, transforming the shopping center into an open-air complex and scrapping a proposal for a Costco store that drew backlash from neighbors. The Mall ownership has not proposed housing at this time. The mall currently has 2,908 parking spaces. The layoffs are slated to occur on April 3. Hanson previously covered city government politics, homelessness and housing and environmental issues at the Chico Enterprise-Record. Consider that separate but equal doesnt really work with affordable housing, she said. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Specific details behind BJs decision to shutter its Northgate Mall restaurant are unclear. A severe decrease in our warehouse operations prompted GSC Logistics undergo a reduction in its workforce, Frank Del Gaizo, a senior director in human resources, wrote in a letter to the companys warehouse workers in Oakland that GSC provided to the state EDD. Elsewhere in the Bay Area, a handful of tech companies planned to eliminate a combined 163 jobs affecting workers in Santa Clara, Redwood City, San Francisco and Hayward. The acceptance of in-lieu fees as a substitute for actual affordable housing getting built is counterproductive to fulfilling this great need at this time.. We have been looking at ways to get more housing built faster in order to comply with the tall order given to us by the state, Jensen said. Youre walking, not driving, out of your residence to shop or catch a movie or grab a cup of coffee or dinner with friends.. The traffic study will be reviewed by the Citys traffic engineer, along with a 3rd party traffic engineer hired by the City. The first phase also calls for building four apartment buildings on the southern and eastern edges of the property with a combined 896 residences. Closed - Opens at 10:00 AM Saturday. Hours Sun: 12P - 6P. At this time, the mall ownership is focused on stabilizing the commercial viability of the mall to ensure its long term economic viability and the Costco application is the first step. We dont build enough housing, including affordable housing., Ruth Jaeger, a member of the affordable housing team for the Marin Organizing Committee, called the project critical for creating workforce affordable housing, which is desperately needed for the essential workers in our community., This need is great throughout Marin County, not just in northern Marin, she said. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The mall would shrink from about 750,000 square feet of retail to about 250,000, while 1.5 million square feet of housing would be added. A new plan to redevelop the Northgate mall in San Rafael calls for building 1,356 apartments, transforming the shopping center into an open-air complex and scrapping a proposal for a Costco. The company warned that the job cuts could occur throughout 2023, depending on demand for warehouse and shipping work at the Port of Oakland. If you have questions or comments about this project, please submit them in advanceto Project Planner,Tricia Stevens. (Provided by City of San Rafael), A design rendering for the proposed redevelopment of Northgate mall in Terra Linda depicts the Main Street area. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The first work would involve demolishing the former Sears store, which has been temporarily used partly as an RH outlet store, and its related spaces to make way for 898 apartments. There are already multiple gas stations near Northgate, can we stop Costco from opening a gas station at this location? RT @HowardWPenney: Restaurants with mall exposure are underperformers.. BJ's Restaurant in San Rafael's Northgate Mall to close, lay off 90 workers $CAKE $BJRI $RRGB . reports on traffic, air quality, etc) required for formal submittal are not submitted during conceptual review. The DRBs purview is solely on design matters, so comments should be related to design, such as site plan, architecture, bulk and mass, colors and material, landscaping, etc. In San Francisco, the owner of the Stonestown Galleria is planning on building several thousand housing units on surface parking lots. But mixed-use and open-air reworkings of malls have been undertaken elsewhere in the Merlone Geier portfolio, which includes 112 assets on the West Coast, mainly focused on centers anchored by grocery, drug and home-improvement store tenants. (Provided by City of San Rafael), Artist's rendering for proposed development at Northgate Mall shows a residential parcel along Northgate Drive. If you have questions or comments about this project, please submit them in advanceto Project Planner. in English from UC Berkeley. The second phase has a much longer time frame tentatively circa 2040 and includes up to 460 more apartments plus revamped retail spaces and more open areas. Geraghty said her group still has concerns about height and density, and whether the green space is large enough for such a big project. Apparently, this location is now on private property with no public access. Architectural rendering of some of the 898 apartments and grocery retail that . He is the author of two books: "Here Tomorrow" (Heyday, 2013) and "High Spirits" (Heyday, 2015). NOP - Notice of Preparation of a Draft EIR. Logan added that parking for residents is a major issue. We look forward to you joining us on Tuesday, September 14th at 7 p.m.! Leslie Mendez, a city planning official, said the project will be referred to the countys water and sanitation districts first. As a Conceptual Review, plans are preliminary in nature and are not as fully developed as would be required for formal submittal. (Provided by City of San Rafael), Artist's rendering for proposed development at Northgate Mall shows a view of a community park. The neighbors would prefer a more open space, a mix of rental housing and condos rather than all rental and probably a bit less density than the developer is proposing, especially close to the single-family homes. He also writes the weekly business column Movers & Shakers, which appears in Friday's paper. The draft environmental impact report is expected to be scheduled for a Planning Commission hearing in August. San Rafael: Developer revises Northgate housing, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), San Rafael: Developer revises Northgate housing plan, Marin Municipal Water District selects strategy for new water supplies, Marin company proposes housing projects in South Bay, Rain and cold return to Marin County this weekend, Marin education panel opposes Novato charter school, cityofsanrafael.org/northgate-town-square, Marin DA's office hit with racial discrimination claims, Drought is now over in more than half of California, including the Bay Area, feds say, Former San Quentin guard sentenced for cellphone smuggling, Novato City Council approves theater sale agreement, San Rafael workplace murder suspect convicted, Santa Rosa high school student stabbed to death in classroom, California extends Bay Area tax deadlines to match IRS, Novato police arrest burglary suspect after scuffle, San Rafael still lagging on prior housing quota, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area. Some would include retail stores on the ground floor. Merlone Geier Partners, a real estate investment firm based in San Francisco, is seeking to build 1,320 new residences on the 45-acre site in Terra Linda. Futurewei Technologies, a unit of China-based Huawei, is cutting 43 jobs in Santa Clara. The Pre Application process has been completed. Merlone Geier hopes to revitalize the mall by building housing on the site, said David Geiser, the companys managing director. After a dramatic redesign introduced in November 2009, the center utilizes new features that blur the boundaries between the indoors and the outdoors, including a courtyard gathering place called the Oak Plaza, open-air dining areas and an indoor-outdoor food court near the . Whether affected staffers retain their positions at neighboring BJs restaurants is uncertain. Marin County mall could be converted into 1,345 housing units, movie theater. This one's at Slippery Rock. San Marcos Pass, c1885 (with thanks to u/DaBooch425 for the request!). The next steps, should Costco choose to purse this project, are is listed below in the Frequently Asked Questions section. The new plan represents a major shift from the companys 2019 proposal to build a Costco store and a gas station at the site of the former Sears building, which drew widespread scrutiny from Terra Linda residents. Planning Commissioner Jon Previtali asked how the developer will make sure there is sufficient water for the project. Those days are gone, but with a walkable mix of shopping, plazas, entertainment and housing, it could once again be a draw. To keep the residence count at the desired level, 224 apartments would be added to the two complexes planned along Las Gallinas Avenue. Need project to better respect the design and character ofsurroundingarea. Phone (415)479-1302. Eliminate tall wall sections by Increasing articulation along all or portions of all elevations, particularly along the south and north elevations. The store, which has been in operation for over 20 years, is said to be shutting its doors for good in the next few weeks. Costco and Northgate Mall hosting a community open house on September 25 and September 26, About the Costco Pre Application and Conceptual Design Review, About the Community Development Review Process (Costco Project), Costco Wholesale Corporation, Michael Okuma, No PC support for gas component of the project (unanimous), Really need a master plan to understand what is planned for rest of mall, how this project would impact that and what that would do to housing potential, Confirmed the main Costco retail use and tire center are consistent with the current Master Use Permit, but not as designed (lack of integration with mall, circulation issues, height/bulk/mass), Need for data to support the benefits to the community and support claims that Costco will bring shoppers to mall, Concern with the increased height (Exception findings) more than current Sear footprint which results in bulk and mass coming so close to Northgate Dr, Need for better integration of the Costco with rest of Mall, Concern with on-site circulation access as noted by staff. The city staff has 30 days to review the plans to determine whether additional information or revisions are needed, Mendez said. This news comes as a surprise to many, as Forever 21 has been a staple in the Northgate Mall community. Ninety jobs are affected. A developer seeks to build 1,345 units of housing at Northgate Mall in San Rafael. From its commanding location along Highway 101 in San Rafael--the county's oldest and largest city-- Northgate has been a part of the local .