The developer selected to revitalize parts of downtown Morgan
Hill unveiled more tentative designs for the proposed three-story
retail, office, residential and cinema buildings at a community
meeting Tuesday.
The developer selected to revitalize parts of downtown Morgan Hill unveiled more tentative designs for the proposed three-story retail, office, residential and cinema buildings at a community meeting Tuesday.
Project managers from Barry Swenson Builder presented posters and slides representing the “conceptual” designs and floor plans for the upcoming projects at the sites of the Downtown Mall, defunct Granada Theater and Royal Clothiers.
But the developer and city staff noted that the information-gathering session was another step in a long process to determine final designs, and an even longer process to the start of construction.
“We’re still in a conceptual design stage. We haven’t come to any conclusions,” said Jeff Current, vice president of Barry Swenson Builder.
One key factor in the progress of the project is the current economic situation, which could affect everything from the sale of up to 85 housing units proposed on the Downtown Mall site to the cost of construction.
The publicly-owned project is “not immune” to the ailing economy, Morgan Hill assistant to the city manager David Heindel said.
“The status of the housing market is not very good, and that affects the economics of the project,” said Heindel. “Swenson is committed to moving this process forward as quickly as possible, but we’re all in the same bubble.”
Tuesday’s meeting was a followup to two similar meetings held earlier this summer.
More public input will be accepted at future meetings before construction starts in 2012. The Morgan Hill planning commission and city council are scheduled to review the design concepts this month, after which the builder will call a fourth community meeting for Nov. 16 where the public will be asked for more details.
Drawings on display Tuesday at the Community and Cultural Center depicted a mix of traditional and Spanish architectural styles, based on public input gathered at the two previous sessions this summer and the city’s Downtown Specific Plan zoning guidelines.
The properties are owned by the city’s Redevelopment Agency. The city council selected Barry Swenson Builder, based in San Jose, earlier this year to develop the property.
Floor plans indicate three floors on both sites – with an “anchor tenant” on the ground floor of each project – possibly a neighborhood grocery store at the Downtown Mall site and a multiscreen cinema at the Royal Clothiers site.
On the upper levels of the Downtown Mall block, known as “site A,” would be 60 to 85 condo-style residences of varying sizes for sale, with an outdoor “pedestrian plaza” toward the front of the building. Current explained the outdoor area could be designed and decorated with “layers” of details that have yet to be worked out – such as what type of storefront signage, outdoor light bulbs and exterior molding to apply.
Finalized details will be submitted to the city council for approval by Dec. 15. After that the city and contractor will work on a property sale contract and development agreement. Construction is expected to begin by early 2012.
Some comments submitted at the meeting Tuesday, which about 100 people attended, complained that the designs too closely resembled other recently revitalized California cities. Others indicated the proposed styles don’t capture the small-town atmosphere of Morgan Hill.
But others were impressed with the designs.
“I like how they’re breaking it up (with a variety of styles) instead of doing a monolithic (structure),” said Morgan Hill resident Bart Devries, who attended earlier meetings on downtown redevelopment and was among other residents who offered the mix of styles as a suggestion. “I think they caught on.”
Also presented in the conceptual design are parking lots behind both sites, with an underground level of parking on site A.
The Royal Clothiers site, on the 17300 block of Monterey Road – known as “site B” – will house a small multi-screen cinema that could cater to an adult crowd with bar service and an appetizer menu, wide aisles and roomy seats and the screening of “artsy” films, Barry Swenson Builder senior development manager Jessie Thielen said.
The concept also indicates a large outdoor recreation deck on the second floor, office space and up to 15 apartments for rent upstairs.
Since the first two engagement meetings, Barry Swenson Builder has been busy contacting potential future tenants for the new spaces, working with the city on a contract and coordinating efforts with the firm selected to redesign Monterey Road.
The builder reported that at the first two meetings, they found that attendees were receptive to a grocery store, plus smaller retail merchants of clothing, a drug store, bakery, and ice cream shop. The public also indicated a preference for an Apple computer store on one of the sites.
City staff, Barry Swenson Builder, and Callander Associates are working closely to coordinate the redevelopment project and a new Monterey Road streetscape, Heindel said. The redevelopment builder and Callander Associates, a design firm, share a storefront at 17380 Monterey Road, on site B.
