The city staff has 30 days to review the plans to determine whether additional information or revisions are needed, Mendez said. To view all public comments received through January 6, 2020, please click here. 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. Marin centers were allowed to reopen inside again at reduced capacity just recently. BJs Restaurant, the national chain known for its Pizookie dessert, will have one fewer Bay Area location next month. The company is proposing two project phases: the construction of 907 residences starting in 2025, followed by 413 homes beginning in 2040. Leslie Mendez, a city planning official, said the project will be referred to the countys water and sanitation districts first. Susana Guerrero is a reporter for SFGATE covering the Bay Area's food scene. BJs continues to operate 11 locations in the Bay Area, as well as several across the U.S. Temporary move: 6000 Northgate Dr, San Rafael, CA 94903. 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. Conceptual Design Review is meant to provide an informal critique and evaluation of a projects basic design approach. ft. to 225,100 square feet and construct high . He has a degree from Walla Walla University. Andy Neff, a representative for Merlone Geier, confirmed that. I really feel like this town center needs to be front and center., Others, like David Smith, worried that the proposed building heights are too high. The WARN letter indicated the employees are working remotely in locations throughout the Bay Area and other states. 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.. To keep the residence count at the desired level, 224 apartments would be added to the two complexes planned along Las Gallinas Avenue. Bill Carney of Sustainable San Rafael called for building as many affordable residences as possible. 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. Its the way we things evolving in the future.. This one's at Slippery Rock. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. The company warned that the job cuts could occur throughout 2023, depending on demand for warehouse and shipping work at the Port of Oakland. The current standard used for evaluating significance of traffic impacts is Level of Service (LOS) standards, which is the seconds of delay at signalized intersections. over 4 . Hours Sun: 12P - 6P. Enough to shut down every resort. It gives the DRB an opportunity to work together with the applicant to achieve a quality project. Northgate Mall is a shopping mall located in the Terra Linda neighborhood of San Rafael, California, 15 miles (24 km) north of the Golden Gate Bridge.It's the largest of three shopping centers in San Rafael called Northgate. This news comes as a surprise to many, as Forever 21 has been a staple in the Northgate Mall community. San Rafael panel seeks revisions to Northgate overhaul The Project proposes to reduce the existing commercial retail from 775,677 sq. ion. If you have questions or comments about this project, please submit them in advanceto Project Planner. Northgate Mall - San Rafael San Rafael officials are reviewing Merlone Geiers application for completeness, according to Community Development Director Paul Jensen. The purpose is for the City through a public process to provide preliminary feedback on the proposed design direction. Cookie Notice You may also contact the OPR via email at state.clearinghouse@opr.ca.gov or via phone at (916) 445-0613. 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 site is designated as mixed use in the 2040 General Plan. That plan has faced active resistance from the community, including a petition drive with hundreds of signatures in opposition. Jessuina Prez-Tern of the Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative said the project must move forward to help San Rafael approach goals for housing. ATTENTION: Online services for the Business License Division and Transient Occupancy (Hotel) Tax will be unavailable starting 02/24/2023 at 3:30pm. If you have any questions, please call 415-485-3051 for more information. Northgate Mall Redevelopment Project - Northgate Town Center - San Rafael. The state has mandated that San Rafael approve 3,220 new residences by 2031. 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. Phase 1 would also include the construction of a town square near the center of the project site. No upcoming events. 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. Sign up today. More information on the project is atcityofsanrafael.org/northgate-town-square. That is one of the key elements that we are committing to as part of these changes to the plan.. View Dining Options San Rafael's Northgate Mall makeover vision includes nearly 1,400 apartments, smaller tenant spaces. Retail. GSC Logistics is cutting 80 jobs, with layoffs scheduled to begin as soon as April 12. 0. 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. Get hot deals, the inside scoop and special promotions all available through our exclusive profiles. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal). 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 new cinema would reach 65,000 square feet and include an IMAX theater. Register to attend at FutureNorthgateMall.com. At the time of submittal of formal applications, the City requires a complete traffic study to be prepared by a licensed traffic engineer. The Northgate Mall Redevelopment project proposes a comprehensive redevelopment of the existing mall into an open-air "main street experience," surrounded by mixed-use development of retail and up to 1,422 residences. During the pandemic, we found out very quickly that tenants with exterior-facing entrances survived and thrived better in this environment.. NORTHGATE MALL - Northgate Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903; Request Photos or Floorplans. In addition, the City will review the project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and determine if the project is exempt from CEQA or prepare an Initial Study and Negative Declaration, mitigated Declaration or Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Some would include retail stores on the ground floor. It's the largest of three shopping centers in San Rafael called Northgate. I was really heartened to see that Merlone Geier did listen to the community at large, Geraghty said. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Please see the City Public Meetings Page for meeting minutes and staff reports. In San Francisco, the owner of the Stonestown Galleria is planning on building several thousand housing units on surface parking lots. Parking would be reduced from 2,908 to 2,311 spaces. The layoffs are slated to occur on April 3. Right out of the box, this could really be a signature development that could be good for the developers and certainly good for the community, he said. The current zoning for the mall property (General Commercial), allows gas stations in the zone, subject to a Conditional Use Permit. Merlone Geier Partners bought the mall in 2017. The final EIR and project will require approval of the Planning Commission and City Council. As a Conceptual Review, plans are preliminary in nature and are not as fully developed as would be required for formal submittal. Phase 1 (also referred to as the 2025 Master Plan) would generally include the demolition of the RH Outlet, HomeGoods, and approximately 140,932 square feet of the main building and construction of approximately 1,013 residential units. The next steps, should Costco choose to purse this project, are is listed below in the Frequently Asked Questions section. 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. 1,033. Start my search; . Logan added that parking for residents is a major issue. Improve the visual connection to the mail by incorporating some of the existing material palette i.e., (more stone, less concrete). Housing is key to spurring a resurgence of retail activity, because living spaces are used daily, and having markets and fast-casual dining next door will generate more trips to the retail areas, Logan said. Planning Commissioner Jon Previtali asked how the developer will make sure there is sufficient water for the project. The second phase also calls for building two five-story apartment buildings with a combined 460 residences. Since the announcement last spring that Northgate could become housing mixed with retail, there have been about two dozen meetings with various stakeholders. 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. How will the City consider traffic impacts in nearby neighborhoods? But Jenny Silva said, We need to be able to grow higher. 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. 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. 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. In addition, the Conceptual Design Review is a process required by the City for major projects to have preliminary design level plans reviewed by the Citys Design Review Board (DRB) before they are developed too far. 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. 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. 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. Project is solely designed for car access and needs to pay attention to pedestrians, Ensure that traffic study is comprehensive and extends to greater are than just around mall. Before the Business Journal, he wrote for Bay City News Service in San Francisco. 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? 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. The project would also include a 9,000-square-foot bicycle center with a repair shop, bike parking and other features. That drove the decision to reconsider its use for housing as well as retail. He has since expanded his focus to explore housing and development issues throughout Northern California. Northgate Town Square - San Rafael The recent spate of storms lifted the statewide snowpack to 190% of average for the start of the month, and more snow is on the way. Carney said the advocacy group hopes the town square space could be larger and replace some of the parking. The proposal also calls for 2-3 levels of rooftop parking on top of the proposed Costco warehouse. Northgate Mall BJ's Restaurant to close permanently - San Francisco Suite 72 Available now! On July 26, 2019, Costco filed a Pre Application and Conceptual Design Review application with the City of San Rafael. Privacy Policy. Bay Area job cuts: Planned closure of BJs in, 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), Bay Area job cuts: Planned closure of BJs in San Rafael adds to growing numbers, Impossible Foods, Rivian Auto add to rising Bay Area layoffs, Editorial: California must lead in crafting AI protections, Google excludes thousands of workers from benefits: report, Tech, life science job cuts: hundreds more layoffs jolt Bay Area, 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. Phase one would consist of 896 units in four three- and four-story apartment buildings on the southern and eastern edge of the property. 1000 Northgate Mall. Why not consider housing in this location instead? SFGATE also reached out to Northgate Mall to learn what business could take over BJs forthcoming vacant space but did not hear back. (Provided by City of San Rafael), Artist's rendering for proposed development at Northgate Mall shows a market and residential units. The planners of the Northgate mall redevelopment in San Rafael have been sent back to the drawing board over concerns of density, parking and overall site layout. Tech, dining, logistics firms trigger hundreds more Bay Area job cuts If you have questions or comments about this project, please submit them in advanceto Project Planner,Tricia Stevens. 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. Northgate Mall Redevelopment Project - California This is a carousel. We are just not sure the infrastructure traffic, sewer, schools can handle that much density.. Those days are gone, but with a walkable mix of shopping, plazas, entertainment and housing, it could once again be a draw. The current zoning for the property does allow housing, in addition to commercial development. 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. California snowpack hits highest level this century for March. They would replace the originally planned 309 apartments that would have been on the southern parcel. 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. Many details still need to be worked out, Geraghty said. The Design Review Board meeting on the Conceptual application is scheduled for October 22, 2019. in English from UC Berkeley. A developer seeks to build 1,345 units of housing at Northgate Mall in San Rafael. . The BJ's location at Northgate Mall in San Rafael is set to permanently close. 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). J.K. Dineen covers housing and real estate development. The housing component would include 911 homes in six apartment buildings no more than five stories tall. . Address and locations: 5800 Northgate Mall, San Rafael, California - CA 94903. Whether affected staffers retain their positions at neighboring BJs restaurants is uncertain. Merlone Geier Partners, a real estate investment firm that bought the mall in 2017, is proposing to build 1,345 housing units and a town center for the Terra Linda neighborhood. (415) 499-5200. 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. 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. Weather | Father and two girls stranded in snowstorm for 13 hoursNews | New report shows thousands of workers have left downtown SFLocal | Bald eagles nesting at Bay Area golf course could lay eggs 'any day now'Tahoe | How much snow did Tahoe get? Between the first and second phase of the project, the mall would lose 509,000 square feet of commercial space, with 246,677 square feet remaining. A developer has revised its proposal to overhaul the Northgate mall property in San Rafael, adding townhomes for sale and other features. Northgate ::: San Rafael ::: CA That would be followed by construction for retail and residential uses. Reach him at jquackenbush@busjrnl.com or 707-521-4256. The layoffs were expected to be permanent, although the company said its possible that some affected workers could be recalled to their jobs in order of seniority, depending on the demand for work at the port. Northgate Mall (San Rafael, California) - Wikipedia 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. NORTHGATE MALL - Northgate Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903 It involves demolishing 645,312 square feet of commercial space, including the buildings that house Macys and Kohls if those businesses decide to end their leases at the mall. Sign up today. It is meant to allow an applicant to hear both public and City comments on a project before fully developing required plans and materials. Three of the buildings would be five stories tall and a fourth would be four stories. Although not yet required by State law, the traffic study will also evaluate the project in terms of Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT), a new methodology established by the State to be used as the metric for evaluating traffic in CEQA documents, starting in July 2020. Were certainly much happier with the larger town square and the a mixture of ownership townhomes in phase one.. Making the height Exception findings will be difficult. The mall has 2,908 parking spaces and the new plan would reduce that number to 2,311, including 1,789 not reserved for apartments. The project site is located west of US Highway 101 (US 101), in the City of San Rafael, Marin County. Project Contact Tricia Stevens, Project Planner at (916) 698-4592 or. While the details may change with community and city input, the propertys future has been guided by lessons from the challenges for malls in recent years and the constraints of the pandemic in the past 12 months. Thats a great signal to the city to phase out burning fossil fuels to heat our homes.. The six apartment buildings would add 1,464,000 square feet of residential space. Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. . The mall currently has 2,908 parking spaces. It was managed by The Macerich Companyuntil 2017 and is now managed by Merlone Geier Partners. As comments are received they will be periodically added to thePublic Commentspage. Housing really becomes the critical piece in Northgates evolution in that amenities will be close by. . Specials Shop Gift Cards Salon Locations Services FAQs News Home Login Account. 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View Dining Options This content is for decoration only skip decoration. It was managed by The Macerich Company until 2017 and is now managed by Merlone Geier Partners. (Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal), A redesigned town square and pavillion are shown in this rendering of the proposed redevelopment of the Northgate shopping mall in San Rafael. The owner of the Northgate Mall in north San Rafael has unveiled plans for where it wants to take the regional shopping center in the next three decades, and that includes hundreds of apartments and a return to the open-air shopping experience there over three decades ago. Northgate Mall Redevelopment Project - Northgate Town Center - San Rafael See Store Hours. For more than an hour, community members got the chance to describe their concerns about the project. Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael, CA 94903. The City does not have any criteria for over concentration of land uses, like gas stations. (Provided by City of San Rafael), Artist's rendering for proposed development at Northgate Mall shows a residential parcel along Northgate Drive. Northgate Mall 124 reviews Claimed $$ Shopping Centers Closed 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Hours updated 2 months ago See hours See all 162 photos Write a review Add photo Save Location & Hours Suggest an edit 5800 Northgate Mall San Rafael, CA 94903 Get directions You Might Also Consider Sponsored Jewelry Art Center 51 17.8 miles away from Northgate Mall Andrew Palmer on Twitter: "RT @HowardWPenney: Restaurants with mall The first is scheduled for 6 p.m. on March 30 and the second for 6 p.m. on April 20. 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. 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. Retail as an enclosed mall is dead, Logan said. So, there is no further action on the part of the city, unless we receive a formal application. Ninety jobs are affected. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal), The former Sears store at Northgate Mall and surrounding area is seen in San Rafael on Thursday, March 11, 2021.