Menlo Park: Brainstorming options for Tyco land Menlo Park: Brainstorming options for Tyco land (July 25, 2001)

By Pam Smith

Almanac Staff Writer

Auto dealerships, from El Camino or elsewhere, could move to a 22-acre bayfront site near the Dumbarton Bridge, if one idea kicked around by city officials and land-use experts at a July 14 brainstorming session comes to fruition.

City officials initiated the discussion with Tyco International representatives in hopes of influencing, instead of just reacting to, proposals for development on two parcels (10.2 and 11.8 acres) for sale. The property, part of the 85-acre Tyco Electronics campus, is located at the Bayfront Expressway/Willow Road intersection.

"What could we put there that would accommodate the opportunity for the city, as well as for Tyco?" Planning Commissioner Stu Soffer mused at the session, attended by several council members and planning commissioners.

Consultants Jerry Keyser and Terry Bottomley recommended continuing office use on the 10.2-acre parcel, where there are two existing office buildings, and redeveloping the 11.8-acre parcel, which now houses smaller storage buildings and the like.

Council members and commissioners indicated they'd like to explore residential development, though the land is contaminated and housing possibilities are unclear.

The state is likely to prohibit single-family housing on the property, said Spence Leslie, director of site services for Tyco Electronics. He said he was not sure if multi-family housing would be allowed.

Other options on the table include any combination of low-rise office buildings; a "limited service" hotel for longer-term tenants; an auto mall; a medium-scale restaurant; or a "big-box" retail store like Costco Wholesale.

A "full-service" hotel was deemed infeasible due to market conditions _ a developer who sat in the audience said that hotels serving business visitors would be more viable in a downtown area.

"Office use ... is easy to get done," said Mr. Soffer. "But we need to make an effort (to do) what's good for the city" on at least part of the property.

The city should consider, Councilman Paul Collacchi said, the possibility of developing the 10.2-acre property as well if, for instance, it is more suitable for housing than the 11.8-acre parcel.

Even office space, though, may prove difficult to market in the current economic environment. Eighteen months ago office space had a much higher land value than the other alternatives, said Mr. Keyser. Not so anymore.

"It may take us a while to get back to where we were (when we) couldn't find the land available for the Suns and the Ciscos."

The campus used to serve as Raychem's corporate headquarters until Tyco International acquired that company in 1999. Tyco, headquartered in Pennsylvania, has determined it doesn't need all 85 acres, said Mr. Leslie.