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Organizers said about 150 people attended workshops on May 28 and May 30 to participate in redesigning a public plaza for Stanford University’s proposed mixed-use complex on El Camino Real in Menlo Park.
To be located just north of the Middle Avenue and El Camino Real intersection, the plaza is now projected to be 21,000 square feet, about double the size of the public plaza in front of Cafe Borrone and approximately the same size as Redwood City’s courtyard square, according to Stanford spokeswoman Jean McCown.
The entry into the mixed-use complex’s underground parking garage is now planned be on the side of the property nearest to the railroad tracks, rather than running under the plaza as had earlier been contemplated — a plan that had earned protest from some residents who do not consider vehicle traffic a desired feature of public open space.
I attended the meeting and Stanford representatives all said the dimensions of the plaza are about 120 feet wide by 150 feet deep — about 18,000 square feet. Stanford spokeswoman Jean McCown is states here and in the Palo Alto Daily Post that the plaza will be 21,000 square feet and over ½ acre, respectively. While this difference of 3,000 square feet is not monumental, given the small size of the plaza it does make a difference. Either way the plaza is smaller than Fremont Park (corner of University and Santa Cruz Avenue). I realize these plans are all in progress but it would be helpful to know accurate dimensions. This space will accommodate outdoor dining and the entrance to the underpass as part of the public space.
Kudos to Stanford for taking the cars out of the middle of the plaza. The plaza is now a South-facing sun-trap which should be great. Let’s just hope it’s well animated with a good restaurant and cafe, and that we get this going right away!
To Facts: The plaza size relative to other plaza’s can be found here:
http://middleplaza.org/?page_id=50873