The Rise Cupertino Dynamic Shift: In the ever-changing landscape of real estate development, Sand Hill Property Company is adapting to market demands with a revised proposal for The Rise, a 50-acre planned development on the former site of Vallco Mall in Cupertino. Facing challenges such as rising costs and declining property values, the company is seeking project modifications, focusing on significant changes to retail space, housing distribution, and building heights.
The proposed alterations include a reduction in planned retail space from nearly 430,000 square feet to about 230,000 square feet. Sand Hill aims to enhance the retail environment by emphasizing smaller, “experience-based” retailers and dining operations. The total number of housing units will increase from the original 2,402 to 2,669, with a notable reduction in affordable homes from 50% to approximately a third.
To address concerns about building heights, the seven residential towers initially planned at 240 feet will be reduced to three, all shorter than 240 feet, while additional housing will be accommodated in buildings 85 feet or lower. The revised project also scales back office space from nearly 1.9 million square feet to about 1.54 million square feet.
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One significant change is the elimination of a planned rooftop park, replaced by more than seven acres of public park and gathering spaces at street level. Sand Hill aims to align the proposal with residents’ past requests, creating a dynamic, walkable, and vibrant mixed-use environment.
The fate of the Vallco site has been a contentious issue for nearly a decade, involving legal battles, referenda, and divisions among residents and city leaders. If the revised project complies with SB 35, planning officials can approve the changes without input from the Cupertino Planning Commission or City Council. The 60-day review period is anticipated to move the project forward, potentially reshaping Cupertino’s largest single housing project in history. Sand Hill expects to resume work in 2024, with the first vertical structures possibly emerging in 2025, pending approval.