A proposal to build 135 for-sale condominiums and 22,525 square feet of commercial space — for retail or offices — on Oak Grove Avenue near El Camino Real in Menlo Park won unanimous support from the Planning Commission on July 24.
The commission voted 7-0 to recommend that the City Council approve the project, which involves building 10 structures on a 3.5-acre site owned by the Derry family between El Camino Real and the Caltrain station.
The site borders Oak Grove Avenue and Derry Lane, and is currently home to several businesses, including Foster’s Freeze and Wo Sing Laundry and Dry Cleaners.
The San Mateo-based O’Brien Group is partnering with the Derry family in the project, which involves demolition of existing structures and building 10 two- and three-story buildings.
Jim Pollart, vice president of land acquisition and planning for the O’Brien Group, said “it’s certainly a possibility” that existing tenants could fill the new commercial space, but detailed negotiations with any of the tenants have yet to take place.
The project includes plans for a two-level, 306-space parking garage with parking partially and fully submerged.
If approved by the council, construction could begin in early 2007 and be finished by late 2008, Mr. Pollart said.
Twenty-one of the condominiums would be below-market-rate units.
The City Council is tentatively scheduled to consider the project at its August 29 meeting.
