Apartment Choice

College Terrace Market , the longed-for grocery store at 2100 El Camino Real in Palo Alto, finally opened on June 14, but the hoped-for crowds of customers have been slow to materialize. After a promising opening day , the market initially averaged only about 60 customers a day, said Ron Jensen, the market's director of operations. In the last couple of weeks, that number has grown as employees have moved into the First Republic Bank offices in the center's upper floors. But Miki Werness, one of the market's partners, estimated the market needs more than 200 customers per day to thrive. He said he did not anticipate that a summer opening would be so slow, adding that he anticipates many more customers will come with the start of the school year. The shaky start — and other factors potentially conspiring against the market — has customers and neighbors in College Terrace concerned . Under the planned community (PC) ordinance by which the College Terrace Centre devel...

A project that would bring 50 apartment units to El Camino Real has won a strong endorsement by the Palo Alto Planning and Transportation Commission . The Sobrato Organization plans to replace the building occupied by Mike’s Bikes at 3001 El Camino Real with two residential buildings and 19,800 square feet of retail space. One of the buildings would have 30 apartments and the other 20. The apartments would be a mix of studios and one-bedroom units. The size of the units — from 543 to 750 square feet — was a selling point for commissioners, who voted 5-0 to recommend the City Council approve the project. Commission Chairman Michael Alcheck said he’s happy to see a mixed-use housing development on El Camino near public transit, offices and services. “As a city, collectively, we have identified this area as exactly suitable for what is being proposed,” Alcheck said. “We often talk about housing a lot on this commission and this is exactly what I have been yearning for. It’s really ...

Mountain View's rent- control program has already survived political and legal trials -- but what about the business test? An increasing number of apartment owners appear to be cashing out rather than working under the new restrictions. If the trend continues, some say it will lead to a cascade of redevelopment spearheaded by large corporate buyers . This scenario would result in older apartments being phased out and replaced with new housing that is exempt from rent control. Those looking at the data with a more critical eye point out that sales of apartment buildings are up throughout the South Bay, and that the number of buyers indicates a healthy interest in investing in Mountain View housing , regardless of rent control. To take one example, Fremont residents Ann and Paul Lethers decided in June to sell their 18-unit complex on Del Medio Avenue in Mountain View, which they created from separate purchases of two adjacent nine-unit buildings. They say they h...