El Paseo de Saratoga Urban Village: In the intricate dance of urban development, Sand Hill Property is orchestrating a refined performance at El Paseo de Saratoga mall. Originally set to unfurl four soaring residential towers, the Palo Alto-based developer is recalibrating its ambitions, opting for a trio of buildings. The skyline ballet includes apartment dwellings ranging from nine to 12 stories, adorned with strategic commercial spaces.
This intricate urban composition was designed to occupy a harmonious space adjacent to the El Paseo de Saratoga retail center, a property acquired by Sand Hill for $146 million in 2019. The symphony of the proposed urban village, a third of the property’s vision, embraces change while retaining its essence.
A notable alteration in the score involves the substitution of an ambitious 11-story tower with a more modest yet impactful single-story Whole Foods Market. Despite these tweaks, the overall composition remains true to its original vision, housing nearly 1,000 apartment units and fostering 166,000 square feet of commercial synergy.
The development’s narrative, unfolding against the backdrop of a pre-pandemic purchase and subsequent economic ripples, echoes the challenges of staying in tune with a rapidly evolving economy. Steve Lynch, the director of planning and entitlements for Sand Hill Property, candidly acknowledges the complexities posed by a swiftly changing economic tempo during a public meeting earlier this year.
With the project maintaining fidelity to city approvals and accommodating a spectrum of 583 to 994 units, any future notes of expansion would require a comprehensive environmental review, adding another layer to this urban saga. The resilience and adaptability displayed by Sand Hill Property underscore the delicate dance developers perform in the dynamic landscape of urban transformation. As El Paseo de Saratoga’s urban village takes shape, it remains a testament to the ever-shifting cadence of progress.
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