Close. 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). Overall, the project aims to mix transit-oriented housing with community space, retail and restaurants. The City recently approved the Northgate Walk project, how will potential traffic impacts of new housing be taken into consideration in determining approval? The closure will also affect 90 employees who work at. 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 . 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. It gives the DRB an opportunity to work together with the applicant to achieve a quality project. Open Menu Close Menu. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Ft. 225100, Acres 44.76, Employees 1), Aesthetics, Air Quality, Cultural Resources, Cumulative Effects, Drainage/Absorption, Flood Plain/Flooding, Geology/Soils, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Growth Inducement, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Mandatory Findings of Significance, Noise, Population/Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Schools/Universities, Sewer Capacity, Solid Waste, Transportation, Tribal Cultural Resources, Utilities/Service Systems, Copyright The project would be surrounded by stores, restaurants and a remodeled IMAX Century Theater. Share your opinion with users and insert mall rating and reviews for Northgate. Critical Ideas, which does business as Chipper Cash, will cut 49 jobs based out of the San Francisco headquarters. Nodecisions or official action on the projectwill be madeduring this study sessions. The Pre Application process has been completed. Some commenters, like Terra Linda resident Claire Halenbeck, said they want the central plaza to be built sooner than 2040. Two years after the owner of Marin Countys only enclosed shopping mall announced plans to build the largest Costco in the United States a 180,000-square-foot store with 30 gas pumps that would have been dwarfed only by the chains outlets in Mexico and Japan the developer has decided to scrap the warehouse retailer in favor of a residential development with a new town center. Architectural rendering of some of the 898 apartments and grocery retail that . (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. San Rafael residents vet Northgate mall 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 residents vet Northgate mall 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, 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. 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. Merlone Geier is set to host two online meetings to discuss the proposal this spring. The layoffs are slated to occur on April 3. 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. 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. If you have any questions, please call 415-485-3051 for more information. Northgate will not have an office component, but people migrating from workign from home or a remote location will be able to go to pool decks, fitness areas and outdoor spaces, Logan said. What applications have been filed and how/when will those be reviewed? Also envisioned for the first phase would be the transformation of the Century movie complex, including for IMAX features. The second phase calls for building two five-story apartment buildings with a combined 460 residences. Search Site Search. Suite 72 Available now! She received an M.A. With malls struggling across the country, property owners are increasingly looking at housing as both an alternative to brick-and-mortar retail but also a way to create a built-in customer base for future shopkeepers and restaurateurs. That plan has faced active resistance from the community, including a petition drive with hundreds of signatures in opposition. Location. Andy Neff, a representative for Merlone Geier, confirmed that. New plan for San Rafaels Northgate mall: 1,356, 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), New plan for San Rafaels Northgate mall: 1,356 apartments, no Costco, San Rafael council candidates frame visions for Northgate, housing, Dick Spotswood: San Rafael keeps eye on Northgate as possible priority development area, Marin Voice: Northgate needs a comprehensive mixed-use 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, 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. 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. (Provided by City of San Rafael), Artist's rendering for proposed development at Northgate Mall shows a market and residential units. 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. During the pandemic, we found out very quickly that tenants with exterior-facing entrances survived and thrived better in this environment.. Is government-run social housing the solution to the Bay Areas affordability crisis? In North Hollywood, the Noho West center has residential next to office and retail spaces. The BJ's location at Northgate Mall in San Rafael is set to permanently close. 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. A developer has revised its proposal to overhaul the Northgate mall property in San Rafael, adding townhomes for sale and other features. But they'll cost you, Fight at high school basketball game in S.F. According to its website it's one of the. Northgate 5800 Northgate Mall San Rafael, CA 94903 (415) 479-5956. Were very glad to see that all residential units will be 100% electrical, said Bill Carney, chairman of Sustainable San Rafael. The Board will identify relevant issues and significant concerns, and provide comments on the appropriateness of the conceptual design and its compliance with design review criteria and guidelines. The approximately 44.76-acre project site consists of the Northgate Mall, which is located within the San Rafael Town Center in the northern portion of the city. California snowpack hits highest level this century for March. Costco has applied for a Pre Application and Conceptual Design Review for their proposal to demolish the existing multi story Sears building along with the two out buildings (former Sears catalog building and automotive center building) at the southern portion of Northgate Mall. Information. Northgate address: 5800 Northgate Mall, San Rafael, California - CA 94903. Marin County mall could be converted into 1,345 housing units, movie theater. To view all public comments received through January 6, 2020, please click here. 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. 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. Merlone Geier aims to begin the second construction phase in 2040. his meeting will be held in Spanish with English translation. The appropriateness of a gas station and evaluation of any potential impacts will be considered through the public review process. The final EIR and project will require approval of the Planning Commission and City Council. Housing really becomes the critical piece in Northgates evolution in that amenities will be close by. ft. to 225,100 square feet and construct high . 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. Elsewhere in the Bay Area, a handful of tech companies planned to eliminate a combined 163 jobs affecting workers in Santa Clara, Redwood City, San Francisco and Hayward. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The state has mandated that San Rafael approve 3,220 new residences by 2031. In its place, Costco is proposing to build a new 146,958 sq ft Costco Warehouse Center, including a 141,773 sq ft warehouse, 5,185 sq ft attached tire center, along with a detached fueling station. Thats a great signal to the city to phase out burning fossil fuels to heat our homes.. 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. Futurewei Technologies, a unit of China-based Huawei, is cutting 43 jobs in Santa Clara. The project includes two construction phases. 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. (Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal). SFGATE reached out to BJs for comments but did not hear back by publication. The Conceptual Review and Pre Application process have been completed and comments from city staff, the Design Review Board and Planning Commission and the public being forwarded to the applicant. (Provided by City of San Rafael), A woman carries a pizza from the food court at the Northgate Mall in San Rafael on Friday, March 12, 2021. over 4 . (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal). On July 26, 2019, Costco filed a Pre Application and Conceptual Design Review application with the City of San Rafael. . She's a Bay Area native. Ninety jobs are affected. 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. San Rafael's Northgate Mall makeover vision includes nearly 1,400 apartments, smaller tenant spaces. California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Department of Conservation (DOC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Marin Region 7 (CDFW), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Natural Resources Agency, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Francisco Bay Region 2 (RWQCB), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Department of Toxic Substances Control, Office of Historic Preservation, San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bay Delta Region 3 (CDFW), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Department of Transportation, District 4 (DOT), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bay Delta Region 3 (CDFW), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Department of Transportation, District 4 (DOT), Residential (Units 1443, Acres 44.76), Commercial (Sq.