Portola Valley: Millions more needed for Town Center Portola Valley: Millions more needed for Town Center (June 29, 2005)

** New fundraising committee seeks community support.

By David Boyce

Almanac Staff Writer

At a well-attended Portola Valley Town Council meeting last week, a can-do attitude was the general reaction to news of a substantially higher cost to redesign the Town Center.

With a September 2006 groundbreaking date now set -- which allows for better cost analysis -- the project has a new estimated price: $20 million, up from $15.8 million stated in the November 2004 conceptual master plan.

The increases are due to the rising cost of materials, an overheated construction market, itemizing costs that were lumped together in earlier estimates, and completing the overview of the work needed to improve the 11.2-acre site, said Susi Marzuola, an architect with Siegel & Strain Architects of Emeryville.

The town has just $4.5 million set aside for the project, but a group of residents -- the nonprofit Portola Valley Community Fund -- will be seeking private donations from other residents and is optimistic about collecting the additional $15 million, said Mayor Ed Davis at the June 22 meeting.

"(We have) a set of residents who are very enthusiastic about raising money to ensure that our Town Center gets built," said Mr. Davis. The town is also blessed with many residents of substantial means.

Bridging that funding gap will be key if the project is to be done in one phase rather than three -- an alternative that assumed funding in stages. With construction taking 16 to 18 months, a tentative grand opening is set for late in 2007, compared to 2011 for a three-phase project.

"Our goal is to really make this happen in one phase," said Community Fund chair SallyAnn Reiss at the meeting. The fund will seek grant money if needed, she added.
Design changes

The floor area of the proposed buildings is 23,500 square feet, smaller by some 3,000 square feet than proposed in November 2004. All buildings are now one story and less than 25 feet high. As designed, the buildings also exceed state energy efficiency standards.

Instead of a second floor and an elevator, the Town Hall would have a storage loft and a dumbwaiter. The community hall would also have a loft.

The library roof would have a 25-kilowatt solar-panel array, while the roof of the activity building would be planted to keep the building cool and reduce water run-off.
Protest muted

Unlike past meetings on the new Town Center, meeting attendees heard nothing from a persistent group of residents who, in opposing the project, called it a poor use of scarce funds and advocated for simply upgrading the existing buildings. Indeed, Allan Brown -- a regular critic -- is on the fundraising committee's advisory board.

Ms. Reiss asked him to join, Mr. Brown told the Almanac. He said he anticipates tough going, but will contribute his fundraising experience.

As for opposing the project: "I think the train has left the station," he said. "I'm not going to lie down in front of the bulldozers."

A builder with decades of experience, Mr. Brown said he plans to be at project review meetings and hopes to reduce costs by recommending simpler designs.

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