Grace Geraghty, co-founder and longtime North San Rafael resident, said Costco had been very unpopular because of fear that it would clog the streets with cars and hurt air quality in the area. At the time of submittal of formal applications, the City requires a complete traffic study to be prepared by a licensed traffic engineer. If done right, it could be an attraction not just for the neighbors but all of Marin, she said. Reduce the scale of the project (i.e., height, lot coverage, etc.) Northgate Mall is a shopping mall located in the Terra Linda neighborhood of San Rafael, California, 15 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. San Rafael's Northgate Mall makeover vision includes nearly 1,400 apartments, smaller tenant spaces. The project calls for 96 affordable residences along with structure and surface parking. As a Conceptual Review, plans are preliminary in nature and are not as fully developed as would be required for formal submittal. Its the way we things evolving in the future.. In an email to submitted to the city, Laura Silverman, a member of Responsible Growth in Marin, wrote, Why should residents in San Rafael have to travel outside of their own community to participate in the benefits of a town center when we have the perfect opportunity to create something in our own backyard?, Design Review Board member Sharon Kovalsky said, The heart of the project is the town center square. The study session, held on Tuesday, involved no decisions by city officials. While some voiced support for creating as many new housing units as possible, others worried about the projects scope and its water needs. (Provided by Merlone Geier Partners), The Northgate shopping mall in San Rafael, Calif. on Thursday, March 17, 2022. The Pre Application process allows an applicant to receive: 1) preliminary feedback from the City, including code requirements, 2) capacity review from utility providers, and 3) roadmap for any subsequent permits or processes required by the City to process the formal application. The City does not have any criteria for over concentration of land uses, like gas stations. San Marcos Pass, c1885 (with thanks to u/DaBooch425 for the request!). Join us for the next meeting of the Policing in our Community series: 3/8/2023, 6:00-8:00pm, Albert J. Boro Community Center at Pickleweed Park or Virtually. Privacy Policy. The Design Review Board voted 4-0 . It would include the demolition of the Macys and Kohls stores, the installation of a town square plaza and the addition of 409 residences and more retail space. The housing component would include 911 homes in six apartment buildings no more than five stories tall. Open Menu Close Menu. GSC Logistics is cutting 80 jobs, with layoffs scheduled to begin as soon as April 12. Northgate gives you what you want, the way you want it. The project would be surrounded by stores, restaurants and a remodeled IMAX Century Theater. She received an M.A. Close window. Were very glad to see that all residential units will be 100% electrical, said Bill Carney, chairman of Sustainable San Rafael. 5800 Northgate Mall Suite 100 San Rafael, CA 94903. Also envisioned for the first phase would be the transformation of the Century movie complex, including for IMAX features. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 1,033. We appreciate the work that theyve done for this new proposal, Smith said. (415) 499-5200. The Northgate Mall Redevelopment project proposes a comprehensive redevelopment of the existing mall into an open-air "main street experience," surrounded by mixed-use development of retail and up to 1,422 residences. Reach him at jquackenbush@busjrnl.com or 707-521-4256. Location. No upcoming events. He joined The Chronicle in 2014 covering San Francisco land use politics for the City Hall team. But mixed-use and open-air reworkings of malls have been undertaken elsewhere in the Merlone Geier portfolio, which includes 112 assets on the West Coast, mainly focused on centers anchored by grocery, drug and home-improvement store tenants. Thursday Farmers' Market. The owner of the Mall, Merlone Geier has indicated that housing is still an option that they will consider in the future. At San Antonio Center in Mountain View, there is residential above grocery-anchored retail space plus offices, movie theaters and outdoor areas such as a dog park. The applicant has indicated they are taking a pause to analyze the City, outside agency and public feedback received during the preliminary process and decide whether to proceed with the project, and if so, how to proceed. Address and locations: 5800 Northgate Mall, San Rafael, California - CA 94903. Home; Contact Us; Leasing; Northgate home page For more information, please visit OPRs Accessibility Site. Whether affected staffers retain their positions at neighboring BJs restaurants is uncertain. Search Site Search. We didnt want to go through a plan and then have to redo it.. The new proposal, on the other hand, includes many elements residents want: housing, community gathering spaces and an improved theater. NOP - Notice of Preparation of a Draft EIR. That is one of the key elements that we are committing to as part of these changes to the plan.. Adrian Rodriguez covers transportation, San Rafael and the Ross Valley for the Marin IJ. BJs Restaurant, the national chain known for its Pizookie dessert, will have one fewer Bay Area location next month. This content is for decoration only skip decoration. As comments are received they will be periodically added to thePublic Commentspage. Logan said, We can offer a better and more diverse type of affordable housing in there. He said other housing will take 10 or 12 years, and affordable apartments will be built more quickly. The final EIR and project will require approval of the Planning Commission and City Council. The site is designated as mixed use in the 2040 General Plan. The spacious San Rafael restaurant, located at #159 of the mall at 5800 Northgate Dr., features 50-foot-high dining room ceilings and patio seating. Some commenters, like Terra Linda resident Claire Halenbeck, said they want the central plaza to be built sooner than 2040. Start my search; . We are definitely pro-housing, she said. The layoffs are due to occur on April 17. A link to register is at futurenorthgatemall.com. The approximately 44.76-acre project site consists of the Northgate Mall, which is located within the San Rafael Town Center in the northern portion of the city. Nodecisions or official action on the projectwill be madeduring this study sessions. ATTENTION: Online services for the Business License Division and Transient Occupancy (Hotel) Tax will be unavailable starting 02/24/2023 at 3:30pm. Merlone Geier Partners, a real estate investment firm that bought the mall in 2017, is proposing to build 1,345 housing units and a town center for the Terra Linda neighborhood. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Plan Set Submitted July 26, 2019 for Conceptual Design Review/Pre-Application. in English from UC Berkeley. In its place, Costco is proposing to build a new 146,958 sq ft Costco Warehouse Center, including a 141,773 sq ft warehouse, 5,185 sq ft attached tire center, along with a detached fueling station. The development team for Merlone Geier Partners, including staffer Stephen Logan, reminded the group that the original plans for the site with a Costco were disliked by the community. FIND SALON NEAR ME . The closure will also affect 90 employees who work at the restaurant. The DRBs purview is solely on design matters, so comments should be related to design, such as site plan, architecture, bulk and mass, colors and material, landscaping, etc. The mall, which originally opened in 1965, is generally oriented on a north-south axis, with the main building located in the center of the project site surrounded by surface parking and standalone buildings and structures. his meeting will be held in Spanish with English translation. I was really heartened to see that Merlone Geier did listen to the community at large, Geraghty said. The second phase also calls for building two five-story apartment buildings with a combined 460 residences. View Dining Options No binding decisions are made as a result, Given the public interest in this project, the City has also suggested that the Planning Commission review the Conceptual Design Review application in order to weigh in on land use matters, (ie. Posted on September 16, 2019. The Citys current General Plan identifies LOS standards for both AM (weekdays 7-9am) and PM peak hours (weekdays 4-6pm). While the details may change with community and city input, the propertys future has been guided by lessons from the challenges for malls in recent years and the constraints of the pandemic in the past 12 months. Specialties: With its scenic splendor, unique cultural attractions and events, and close proximity to San Francisco, Marin County is both a "must-see" West Coast destination and a renowned bedroom community for the Bay Area's most affluent residents. Susana Guerrero is a reporter for SFGATE covering the Bay Area's food scene. The neighbors would prefer a more open space, a mix of rental housing and condos rather than all rental and probably a bit less density than the developer is proposing, especially close to the single-family homes. Merlone Geier presented the new plan to members of the group this week. (Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal). his meeting will be held in Spanish with English translation. Shops & Services. Regular Bank Hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Pacific Time . We have heard from residents that they want a vibrant town center environment and much-needed housing as part of Northgates future, said Stephen Logan, Merlone Geiers vice president of development. Vegetation on the site consists of ornamental landscaping, including landscaped strips along the boundaries of the site that contain street trees and shrubs, planters with trees within the surface parking lot, and some mature trees located adjacent to the existing buildings. Enough to shut down every resort, Why every Californian needs an air quality monitor, In search of vegan food, I found a world-class Mendocino inn, 6 Cabo hotels for your spring break vacation, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Northgate Mall 124 reviews Claimed $$ Shopping Centers Closed 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Hours updated 2 months ago See hours See all 162 photos Write a review Add photo Save Location & Hours Suggest an edit 5800 Northgate Mall San Rafael, CA 94903 Get directions You Might Also Consider Sponsored Jewelry Art Center 51 17.8 miles away from Northgate Mall Restaurant and department store hours may vary. Were certainly much happier with the larger town square and the a mixture of ownership townhomes in phase one.. Northgate will not have an office component, but people migrating from workign from home or a remote location will be able to go to pool decks, fitness areas and outdoor spaces, Logan said. The approximately 44.76-acre project site consists of the Northgate Mall, which is located within the San Rafael Town Center in the northern portion of the city. In addition, the City will review the project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and determine if the project is exempt from CEQA or prepare an Initial Study and Negative Declaration, mitigated Declaration or Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Thats a great signal to the city to phase out burning fossil fuels to heat our homes.. Phase one would consist of 896 units in four three- and four-story apartment buildings on the southern and eastern edge of the property. Costco and Northgate Mall hosting a community open house on September 25 and September 26, About the Costco Pre Application and Conceptual Design Review, About the Community Development Review Process (Costco Project), Costco Wholesale Corporation, Michael Okuma, No PC support for gas component of the project (unanimous), Really need a master plan to understand what is planned for rest of mall, how this project would impact that and what that would do to housing potential, Confirmed the main Costco retail use and tire center are consistent with the current Master Use Permit, but not as designed (lack of integration with mall, circulation issues, height/bulk/mass), Need for data to support the benefits to the community and support claims that Costco will bring shoppers to mall, Concern with the increased height (Exception findings) more than current Sear footprint which results in bulk and mass coming so close to Northgate Dr, Need for better integration of the Costco with rest of Mall, Concern with on-site circulation access as noted by staff. Similar projects are under way at malls in Newark and Richmond, although the pandemic has slowed some of these plans. SFGATE also reached out to Northgate Mall to learn what business could take over BJs forthcoming vacant space but did not hear back. Geraghty said her group still has concerns about height and density, and whether the green space is large enough for such a big project. RT @HowardWPenney: Restaurants with mall exposure are underperformers.. BJ's Restaurant in San Rafael's Northgate Mall to close, lay off 90 workers $CAKE $BJRI $RRGB . It looked at the benefits of holding on to Costco versus seeking a more residential-focused project with a gathering place for the neighborhood a specialty grocer or food hall and a new expanded movie theater. Northgate Mallis a shopping mall located in the Terra Lindaneighborhood of San Rafael, California, 15 miles (24 km) north of the Golden Gate Bridge. It is the only enclosed regional shopping center in Marin County. 5800 Northgate Drive San Rafael California 94903 Next Event. Our vision to bring people back to Northgate is to combine destination shopping, eating and entertainment with new, quality residences., David Smith, who lives near the mall, said the new plan is a huge improvement over the Costco proposal.. Northgate Mall Redevelopment Project - Northgate Town Center - San Rafael. Merlone Geier Partners, a San Francisco-based real estate investment firm that bought the mall in 2017, submitted the plan to San Rafael officials this week. More information on the project is atcityofsanrafael.org/northgate-town-square. A rendering of the proposed redevelopment of the Northgate shopping mall in San Rafael. We are taking community input and new trends in retail to transform Northgate into something special for San Rafael." The mall, which first became a premier shopping destination for Marin County when it opened in the 1960s, has had to adjust through 50 years of economic changes. Apparently, this location is now on private property with no public access. The revised plans, which were submitted Monday, are under review, said Leslie Mendez, the citys planning manager. Walking and biking paths would be built throughout the property and new standalone retail stores and restaurants would be built along Las Gallinas Avenue. 2023 State of California. For more information Click. But Jenny Silva said, We need to be able to grow higher. For more information, please see our According to its website it's one of the. Northgate San Rafael CA Hours: 2022 Holiday hours (Saturday, Sunday, Easter, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day and today's opening /closing times. . Northgate Mall has 2.5 stars. In addition, the Conceptual Design Review is a process required by the City for major projects to have preliminary design level plans reviewed by the Citys Design Review Board (DRB) before they are developed too far. 0. Contact or Call . Evernote, a software company that has developed a note-taking app, will eliminate 65 positions in Redwood City. A developer has revised its proposal to overhaul the Northgate mall property in San Rafael, adding townhomes for sale and other features. A new plan to redevelop the Northgate mall in San Rafael calls for building 1,356 apartments, transforming the shopping center into an open-air complex and scrapping a proposal for a Costco. The Mall at Northgate San Rafael, California . Suite 72 Available now! Bill Carney of Sustainable San Rafael called for building as many affordable residences as possible. There are some significant changes to the project based on feedback that the applicant team received from the community, meaning the public, and decision-makers, the boards and commissions and staff, Mendez said. The project site is located west of US Highway 101 (US 101), in the City of San Rafael, Marin County. Natalie Hanson reports on breaking news, police and fire and criminal justice. (See next . Since the announcement last spring that Northgate could become housing mixed with retail, there have been about two dozen meetings with various stakeholders. If you have questions or comments about this project, please submit them in advanceto Project Planner,Tricia Stevens. Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. This Study Session is an opportunity for early Planning Commission and Design Review Board project feedback on land use and design and allows early opportunity for public input. Costco and Northgate Mall are hosting a community open house on the Costco project. The BJ's location at Northgate Mall in San Rafael is set to permanently close April 12, the San Francisco Business Times reports. Enclosed malls have been shuttered for extended periods during the coronavirus pandemic that began in March 2020. In San Francisco, the owner of the Stonestown Galleria is planning on building several thousand housing units on surface parking lots. Big box retail is out and big housing is in at Northgate Mall in San Rafael. Email her at Susana.Guerrero@sfgate.com, BJs Restaurant to permanently close Bay Area mall location, Horoscope for Friday, 3/03/23 by Christopher Renstrom, Wife of Jeffrey Vandergrift issues somber update, No seriously, dont drive up to Tahoe this weekend, The best fried chicken is at a San Francisco strip club, Scream publicity stunt floods Bay Area dispatch with 911 calls, Snowboarder dies at Tahoe ski resort following historic blizzard, Arrest in killing of woman seen running through Tahoe campground, Rain reenters Bay Area forecast: Have an umbrella near you, The Warriors broke Russell Westbrook, just like old times, Mochi muffin bakery closes SF cafe after just 4 months, Two more Shake Shack restaurants head to the Bay Area, Father and two girls stranded in snowstorm for 13 hours, New report shows thousands of workers have left downtown SF, Bald eagles nesting at Bay Area golf course could lay eggs 'any day now', How much snow did Tahoe get? Northgate Station (formerly Northgate Mall) is an enclosed shopping mall in Seattle, Washington, United States.It is located in the Northgate neighborhood on Interstate 5, adjacent to Northgate Way and Northgate station, a light rail station. The mall currently has 2,908 parking spaces. Merlone Geier hopes to revitalize the mall by building housing on the site, said David Geiser, the companys managing director. Phase 1 (also referred to as the 2025 Master Plan) would generally include the demolition of the RH Outlet, HomeGoods, and approximately 140,932 square feet of the main building and construction of approximately 1,013 residential units. Two years after the owner of Marin Countys only enclosed shopping mall announced plans to build the largest Costco in the United States a 180,000-square-foot store with 30 gas pumps that would have been dwarfed only by the chains outlets in Mexico and Japan the developer has decided to scrap the warehouse retailer in favor of a residential development with a new town center. Parking would be reduced from 2,908 to 2,311 spaces. With malls struggling across the country, property owners are increasingly looking at housing as both an alternative to brick-and-mortar retail but also a way to create a built-in customer base for future shopkeepers and restaurateurs. Planning Commissioner Jon Previtali asked how the developer will make sure there is sufficient water for the project. Northgate Mall. It's the largest of three shopping centers in San Rafael called Northgate. Ninety jobs are affected. The planners of the Northgate mall redevelopment in San Rafael have been sent back to the drawing board over concerns of density, parking and overall site layout. Among the announced layoffs was BJs Restaurants, which said it would close the San Rafael location at Northgate mall on April 12. Northgate address: 5800 Northgate Mall, San Rafael, California - CA 94903. It closed in January 2020. FILE: The BJ's Restaurant location at Northgate Mall in San Rafael is expected to close in April. At the end of the day, we wanted to have a true mixed-use project, and we didnt think a Costco would be conducive for that, he said. Join us for the next meeting of the Policing in our Community series: 3/8/2023, 6:00-8:00pm, Albert J. Boro Community Center at Pickleweed Park or Virtually. On November 14, 2019, Forever 21announced that the Northgate Mall location would be closing along with 21 other locations in California and 90 locations nationwide. Bay Area job cuts: Planned closure of BJs in, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Bay Area job cuts: Planned closure of BJs in San Rafael adds to growing numbers, Impossible Foods, Rivian Auto add to rising Bay Area layoffs, Editorial: California must lead in crafting AI protections, Google excludes thousands of workers from benefits: report, Tech, life science job cuts: hundreds more layoffs jolt Bay Area, Marin DA's office hit with racial discrimination claims, Drought is now over in more than half of California, including the Bay Area, feds say, Former San Quentin guard sentenced for cellphone smuggling, Novato City Council approves theater sale agreement, San Rafael workplace murder suspect convicted, Santa Rosa high school student stabbed to death in classroom, California extends Bay Area tax deadlines to match IRS, Novato police arrest burglary suspect after scuffle, San Rafael still lagging on prior housing quota, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Architectural rendering of some of the 898 apartments and grocery retail that . Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Jessuina Prez-Tern of the Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative said the project must move forward to help San Rafael approach goals for housing. The developers have also decided to offer 85 three-story townhomes for sale in the first phase. Sign up today. The six apartment buildings would add 1,464,000 square feet of residential space. Making the height Exception findings will be difficult. Northgate will offer all-new shopping offerings from boutique to national brands with a transition to an all-outdoor shopping, dining, entertainment and lifestyle destination, with walking paths and gathering spaces connecting all areas. The DRB provided the following primary comments. Current major tenants within the mall include Century Theatre, Macys, Kohls, Rite Aid, and HomeGoods. Portions of the mall roof would be removed to return to the outdoor shopping experience before the center was closed in during the mid-1980s. The first phase in 2025 includes the demolition of the former Sears store, the HomeGoods building and approximately 140,932 square feet of the mall. so that it is closer in size to the existing Sears buildings and takes into consideration the lower scale of both the adjacent residential neighborhood and the existing Mall. Artist's rendering for proposed development at Northgate Mall shows shops and residential building. How will the City consider traffic impacts in nearby neighborhoods? . The second phase calls for building two five-story apartment buildings with a combined 460 residences. New plan for San Rafaels Northgate mall: 1,356, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), New plan for San Rafaels Northgate mall: 1,356 apartments, no Costco, San Rafael council candidates frame visions for Northgate, housing, Dick Spotswood: San Rafael keeps eye on Northgate as possible priority development area, Marin Voice: Northgate needs a comprehensive mixed-use plan, Marin Municipal Water District selects strategy for new water supplies, Marin company proposes housing projects in South Bay, Rain and cold return to Marin County this weekend, Marin education panel opposes Novato charter school, Marin DA's office hit with racial discrimination claims, Drought is now over in more than half of California, including the Bay Area, feds say, Former San Quentin guard sentenced for cellphone smuggling, Novato City Council approves theater sale agreement, San Rafael workplace murder suspect convicted, Santa Rosa high school student stabbed to death in classroom, California extends Bay Area tax deadlines to match IRS, Novato police arrest burglary suspect after scuffle, San Rafael still lagging on prior housing quota, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. This content is for decoration only skip decoration. Another phase would not take place until 2040. The mall is anchored by Barnes & Noble, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Nordstrom Rack.. Northgate opened in 1950 as one of the first modern shopping centers to . Nodecisions or official action on the projectwill be madeduring this study sessions. The city staff has 30 days to review the plans to determine whether additional information or revisions are needed, Mendez said. The project came under public scrutiny this week during a joint study session of the Planning Commission and the Design Review Board. Merlone Geier Partners, a real estate investment firm based in San Francisco, is seeking to build 1,320 new residences on the 45-acre site in Terra Linda. The Board will identify relevant issues and significant concerns, and provide comments on the appropriateness of the conceptual design and its compliance with design review criteria and guidelines. Las Gallinas Avenue would be lined with new restaurants and stores. Notice of Completion State Review Period Start 12/9/2021 State Review Period End He also writes the weekly business column Movers & Shakers, which appears in Friday's paper. San Rafael officials are reviewing Merlone Geiers application for completeness, according to Community Development Director Paul Jensen. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal), The former Sears store at Northgate Mall is seen in San Rafael on Thursday, March 11, 2021. Is there any reason you concentrated affordable housing into the (first) housing area as opposed to dispersing through entire development? Previtali said. The mall would be converted to an open-air shopping center, while some of the existing retail space, including the former Sears building, would be knocked down to make way for apartments. J.K. Dineen covers housing and real estate development. An emerging plan to redevelop the Northgate mall complex in Terra Linda is garnering mixed reviews, with some San Rafael residents saying it needs to include more housing and others less. An estimated 333 jobs, including both tech and non-tech industries, are being lost in the Bay Area as a result of the most recent layoff decisions, a review of the WARN letters shows. Northgate gives you what you want, the way you want it. Weather | Father and two girls stranded in snowstorm for 13 hoursNews | New report shows thousands of workers have left downtown SFLocal | Bald eagles nesting at Bay Area golf course could lay eggs 'any day now'Tahoe | How much snow did Tahoe get? Community Development Director Alicia Giudice added that there is a recycled water purple pipe near the site and residents will likely connect to it to reduce the use of potable water. Northgate is in the Terra Linda neighborhood of San Rafael, a district of Mid-Century architecture that includes 900 homes built by Joseph Eichler, the California modernist known for glass walls, cork floors, open-beam ceilings and gable windows. Disclaimer: The Governors Office of Planning and Research (OPR) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. Northgate is in the Terra Linda neighborhood of San Rafael, a district of Mid-Century architecture that includes 900 homes built by Joseph Eichler, the California modernist known for glass. It gives the DRB an opportunity to work together with the applicant to achieve a quality project. A severe decrease in our warehouse operations prompted GSC Logistics undergo a reduction in its workforce, Frank Del Gaizo, a senior director in human resources, wrote in a letter to the companys warehouse workers in Oakland that GSC provided to the state EDD.