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The Menlo Park Planning Commission unanimously voted to send Citibank’s architect back to the drawing board after remodeling plans for a new branch at 1215 El Camino Real failed to impress. Commissioners said the building’s design did not fit the city’s aesthetic.
At its March 23 meeting, commissioners said the proposed remodel looked too stark and lacked character. They asked Citibank’s parent company, Citigroup, to soften the color palette, scale down the planned signage and revise the design before returning. City staff recommended approval of the plans, but commissioners said the look did not match the downtown setting.
“I don’t feel like this current rendering has any character,” Commissioner Katie Ferrick said. “There are plenty of examples of nearby Citibanks, like in Palo Alto, that I’d far prefer. I wouldn’t be prepared to support this in its current iteration.”
Citigroup submitted its application on Feb. 23 to remodel both the interior and exterior of the one-story building at the corner of El Camino Real and Oak Grove Avenue, which was last renovated when First Republic moved in about 30 years ago. The structure itself would remain the same.
“I summarize it as we are concerned with harshness. We’re looking for a design that is softer, and softer means it includes color,” Commissioner Jennifer Schindler said of her colleagues’ collective comments.
Commission Vice Chair Ross Silverstein said subjective judgment plays a legitimate role in the commission’s process. “To some extent, that is what this commission is for,” he said. “If a project doesn’t pass the personal opinions of four out of seven commissioners, that reflects our duty to represent the community.”
Commissioners pointed to Citibank’s branch at 250 University Ave. in Palo Alto as a look they preferred to the Menlo Park proposal.
“I’m struck by the opinions of my fellow commissioners,” Chair Andrew Ehrich said. “I think generally this commission does not have such strong negative opinions towards the project, and I’m inclined to sort of respect that, given that we don’t often react this way.”
The plans were before the commission for approval of the architectural control permit and sign review.
Rather than approving or denying the application, the commission voted to continue the item pending revisions from the applicant. Several commissioners expressed concern that the proposed white facade would appear too stark for the neighborhood. Ferrick said that the “bright white tile” would be “jarring” for that stretch of El Camino Real.
Architect Jeffrey Schmierer of global firm Gensler designed the proposal and told Planning Commission members that the rendering may make the building’s exterior seem brighter than it will actually appear. Schmierer declined to comment for this article.
In addition to aesthetic concerns, commissioners had qualms about lettering on its signs. The bank requested 24-inch-tall signs, while city guidelines recommend between 8 and 18 inches. Without a clear justification for the larger size, the commission instructed the applicant to scale it down.
Following the commissioners feedback, Schmierer said he would speak with his clients and try to address their concerns.
If approved, the 2,600-square-foot branch would include two teller stations, two private meeting rooms, two banker workstations, and employee spaces such as a lactation room, break room and IT room. The site at the corner of El Camino Real and Oak Grove Avenue previously housed a First Republic Bank branch, which shuttered in 2023 after regulators closed the bank and JPMorgan Chase acquired its assets. Chase initially considered reopening the site but never filed an application.
“Citi is deeply committed to serving our customers in the Bay Area,” said Liz Bryant, who leads Citi’s Northern California branch network, in a statement before the commission’s decision. “We continually look for opportunities to optimize our network to align with the evolving needs of our clients and this dynamic market.”
Citigroup declined to comment on the Planning Commission’s decision to continue the project so revisions could be made.
Citibank is not the only bank that is expanding into Menlo Park. Rhode Island-based Citizens Private Bank opened a branch at 99 El Camino Real in Menlo Park at the beginning of March, which it said marked the bank’s expansion into Silicon Valley.
“Designed to serve entrepreneurs, executives, investors, and families, the Menlo Park office reflects Citizens Private Bank’s high-touch, relationship-driven approach and its commitment to delivering locally rooted banking and wealth solutions,” the bank said in a press release.
Citizens’ expansion follows the 2023 closure of First Republic Bank. Many of its new private banking employees previously worked for First Republic. Citizens has since opened a second Menlo Park location on Sand Hill Road.
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Looks kind of like a Chevron gas station.
Amen!
Yes! My first reaction!!!
The way this state is headed, we’re gonna be needing more liquor stores, check cashing stores and Western Unions.
It resembles the Citibank on El Camino next to California Ave., rather than the one next to Nola in downtown Palo Alto. I think the Citibank next to Nola looks much nicer.
Can’t Citibank just use the same building but with new branding on the outside and a new interior?
Menlo Voter said it best : )