Before the Business Journal, he wrote for Bay City News Service in San Francisco. 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. A developer seeks to build 1,345 units of housing at Northgate Mall in San Rafael. Disclaimer: The Governors Office of Planning and Research (OPR) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. Contact or Call . The Project proposes to reduce the existing commercial retail from 775,677 sq. At the end of the day, we wanted to have a true mixed-use project, and we didnt think a Costco would be conducive for that, he said. FILE: The BJ's Restaurant location at Northgate Mall in San Rafael is expected to close in April. San Rafael (Northgate) 5800 Northgate Mall, Suite 51 San Rafael CA 94903 (415) 472-2265. While some voiced support for creating as many new housing units as possible, others worried about the projects scope and its water needs. Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area. The current zoning for the mall property (General Commercial), allows gas stations in the zone, subject to a Conditional Use Permit. We are definitely pro-housing, she said. The state has mandated that San Rafael approve 3,220 new residences by 2031. Carney said the advocacy group hopes the town square space could be larger and replace some of the parking. 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. The draft environmental impact report is expected to be scheduled for a Planning Commission hearing in August. Logan declined to say how much the mall transformation would cost. He has since expanded his focus to explore housing and development issues throughout Northern California. The closure comes as Bay Area tech companies grapple with massive layoffs, which have also rattled businesses in the food industry. 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. Northgate is the only enclosed regional mall and the largest family oriented shopping destination in Marin County. Improve the visual connection to the mail by incorporating some of the existing material palette i.e., (more stone, less concrete). 13 Retail spaces for lease or rent at Northgate Dr & Las Gallinas Ave, San Rafael, CA 94903. It gives the DRB an opportunity to work together with the applicant to achieve a quality project. The six apartment buildings would add 1,464,000 square feet of residential space. so that it is closer in size to the existing Sears buildings and takes into consideration the lower scale of both the adjacent residential neighborhood and the existing Mall. Improve the pedestrian circulation around the project and connecting to the Mall by relocating or eliminating the fuel station element, and converting the proposed new driveway between the project and Mall to pedestrian only. 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. She's a Bay Area native. The traffic study will be reviewed by the Citys traffic engineer, along with a 3rd party traffic engineer hired by the City. The latest job cut announcements will eliminate well over 300 more jobs in the Bay Area, according to WARN letters sent to the state Employment Development Department, a requirement of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. Address and locations: 5800 Northgate Mall, San Rafael, California - CA 94903. . Closed - Opens at 10:00 AM Saturday. What: Costco San Rafael - Community Open Houses When: Open House #1 - Wednesday, Sept. 25; 4:00 to 7:00pm Open House #2 - Thursday, Sept. 26; 5:00 to 8:00pm Where: Northgate Mall - Eastern Common Area (Entrance Next to H&M) 5800. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. We didnt want to go through a plan and then have to redo it.. The closure will also affect 90 employees who work at. Northgate gives you what you want, the way you want it. Community Development Director Alicia Giudice added that there is a recycled water purple pipe near the site and residents will likely connect to it to reduce the use of potable water. In San Francisco, the owner of the Stonestown Galleria is planning on building several thousand housing units on surface parking lots. Merlone Geier plans to hold virtual community forums about the redevelopment master plan on March 30 and April 20. It is the only enclosed regional shopping center in Marin County. Thats a great signal to the city to phase out burning fossil fuels to heat our homes.. Big box retail is out and big housing is in at Northgate Mall in San Rafael. California snowpack hits highest level this century for March. For more than an hour, community members got the chance to describe their concerns about the project. The San Rafael City Council recently voted to lower the citys affordable housing requirement from 20% to 10% to spur construction during the pandemic. This is not a city-sponsored project, therefore the City does not decide where to propose new projects. In addition, technical studies (i.e. 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 traffic study will evaluate existing traffic conditions, along with previously approved, but not yet built projects, including the recently approved Northgate Walk and other approved, but not yet built projects in North San Rafael. Marin centers were allowed to reopen inside again at reduced capacity just recently. A copy of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act document filed by the chain Feb. 10 revealed that BJs will be offering all affected team members transfers to other Company restaurants.. Early close at 2:00 PM Pacific Time Christmas Monday December 25 Friday before New Year's Day Friday December 29 . Please see the City Public Meetings Page for meeting minutes and staff reports. . On November 14, 2019, Forever 21announced that the Northgate Mall location would be closing along with 21 other locations in California and 90 locations nationwide. (415) 499-5200. Open Menu Close Menu. Merlone Geier presented the new plan to members of the group this week. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. What is the next step in the process for the project? What we have consistently heard from residents is to make the town square and its integrated community amenities happen at the start of the redevelopment, he said. Whats important is that the experience of living be the same. 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. She received an M.A. If done right, it could be an attraction not just for the neighbors but all of Marin, she said. Need project to better respect the design and character ofsurroundingarea. The spacious San Rafael restaurant, located at #159 of the mall at 5800 Northgate Dr., features 50-foot-high dining room ceilings and patio seating. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The proposal also calls for 2-3 levels of rooftop parking on top of the proposed Costco warehouse. The new submission does not propose more residences than before, so it should not affect the environmental review of the project, she said. Geraghty said that the mall was a regional attraction when it opened in the 1960s, at a time when malls were a novelty and a destination. Temporary move: 6000 Northgate Dr, San Rafael, CA 94903. Posted on September 16, 2019. The mall, which originally opened in 1965, is generally oriented on a north-south axis, with the main building located in the center of the project site surrounded by surface parking and standalone buildings and structures. General Mall Hours ~ What Time does the Mall Open/Close Today? Close window. Sign up today. 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? his meeting will be held in Spanish with English translation. Mall Directory. We look forward to you joining us on Tuesday, September 14th at 7 p.m.! Major snowstorm might leave you stranded, New 101 express lanes opens in Bay Area. The new cinema would reach 65,000 square feet and include an IMAX theater. ion. An estimated 333 jobs, including both tech and non-tech industries, are being lost in the Bay Area as a result of the most recent layoff decisions, a review of the WARN letters shows. Merlone Geier hopes to revitalize the mall by building housing on the site, said David Geiser, the companys managing director. Map Unavailable Upcoming Events; No events in this location; Helpful; Share. Another phase would not take place until 2040. Specials Shop Gift Cards Salon Locations Services FAQs News Home Login Account. Northgate is in the Terra Linda neighborhood of San Rafael, a district of Mid-Century architecture that includes 900 homes built by Joseph Eichler, the California modernist known for glass walls, cork floors, open-beam ceilings and gable windows. Similar projects are under way at malls in Newark and Richmond, although the pandemic has slowed some of these plans. Conceptual Design Review is meant to provide an informal critique and evaluation of a projects basic design approach. The company is proposing two project phases: the construction of 907 residences starting in 2025, followed by 413 homes beginning in 2040. Northgate Mallis a shopping mall located in the Terra Lindaneighborhood of San Rafael, California, 15 miles (24 km) north of the Golden Gate Bridge. . We understand where the zoning and General Plan sit, but we feel that is the best way to make this site plan work, he said. The Commissions focus is on land use matters (ie traffic, noise, parking, land use compatibility). 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 job cuts took place on Feb. 17. They will resume 02/27/2023 at 10:00am. That plan has faced active resistance from the community, including a petition drive with hundreds of signatures in opposition. Those days are gone, but with a walkable mix of shopping, plazas, entertainment and housing, it could once again be a draw. 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. The Mall at Northgate San Rafael, California . Vegetation on the site consists of ornamental landscaping, including landscaped strips along the boundaries of the site that contain street trees and shrubs, planters with trees within the surface parking lot, and some mature trees located adjacent to the existing buildings. It would include the demolition of the Macys and Kohls stores, the installation of a town square plaza and the addition of 409 residences and more retail space. Sign up today. He has a degree from Walla Walla University. Whether affected staffers retain their positions at neighboring BJs restaurants is uncertain. BJs Restaurant, the national chain known for its Pizookie dessert, will have one fewer Bay Area location next month. Live verbal commenting will be available during the session. This one's at Slippery Rock. Artist's rendering for proposed development at Northgate Mall shows shops and residential building. What applications have been filed and how/when will those be reviewed? Time on Market. She also hoped that a grocery store would be included, and that there would be more integration of affordable residences throughout the complex. 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. Susan Coleman of Responsible Growth in Marin asked the developer to disperse affordable units equitably. Live verbal commenting will be available during the session. This content is for decoration only skip decoration. 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. Also envisioned for the first phase would be the transformation of the Century movie complex, including for IMAX features. Merlone Geier Partners bought the mall in 2017. In an email to submitted to the city, Laura Silverman, a member of Responsible Growth in Marin, wrote, Why should residents in San Rafael have to travel outside of their own community to participate in the benefits of a town center when we have the perfect opportunity to create something in our own backyard?, Design Review Board member Sharon Kovalsky said, The heart of the project is the town center square. The appropriateness of a gas station and evaluation of any potential impacts will be considered through the public review process. The traffic study will evaluate the generation, distribution of all vehicular trips and analyze addition of the new trips on nearby roadway segments and intersections. It looked at the benefits of holding on to Costco versus seeking a more residential-focused project with a gathering place for the neighborhood a specialty grocer or food hall and a new expanded movie theater. The City recently approved the Northgate Walk project, how will potential traffic impacts of new housing be taken into consideration in determining approval? 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. 2023 State of California. For more information Click. Retail as an enclosed mall is dead, Logan said. 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 . 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. If you have questions or comments about this project, please submit them in advanceto Project Planner,Tricia Stevens. Plan Set Submitted July 26, 2019 for Conceptual Design Review/Pre-Application. If the applicant decides to pursue the project, their next step would be to formally submit any required applications to the City for formal review. We are thrilled that Merlone Geier Partners listened to the community and our little groups grassroots efforts, she said. Nodecisions or official action on the projectwill be madeduring this study sessions. Conceptual Design Review involves a public meeting with the DRB. Ninety jobs are affected. Northgate Mall Redevelopment Project - Northgate Town Center - San Rafael. New multiuse paths would wind through the complex, and the developers have committed to supporting offsite bicycle and pedestrian improvements linking to the SMART Civic Center station.