Development slated for Hayward Park station: Caltrain seeking building partner for parking lot in San Mateo’s transit corridor

“We have issued a request for statement of qualification, basically we’re looking for developers who can present propositions that are in line with how we’d like to see the property used,” Ackemann said. “We own the land, we’d like to see it put to better use. One that’s in line with our organization’s vision for transit-oriented development.”

The site is right next to the recently-closed Kmart where developers are proposing 599 residential units, offices, retail and park space in the Station Park Green proposal and in the city’s transit corridor with zoning that welcomes in-fill development.

Caltrain is interested in keeping with San Mateo’s proposed transit-oriented developments and would likely consider a project such as housing units, office space or commuter-serving types of businesses, Ackemann said.

The site is a long way from construction and Caltrain is currently reviewing the applications it received, Ackemann said. It hopes to select a developer and complete negotiations by the end of the year, Ackemann said. Once that’s completed, it would go through the city planning process.

According to Caltrain’s Request for Statement of Qualifications document, there are terms by which a potential developer would need to abide. As part of the agreement, Caltrain will own and operate at least 50 parking spaces dedicated for Caltrain patrons and designate at least five that could support electric vehicle charging stations.

The new development would need to provide six bus layover spaces and, to encourage vehicle access that would minimize conflicts with bicycles and pedestrians, a developer could consider realigning Garvey Way behind the post office or creating an alternate vehicle access on the west side of the platform, according to the document.

The station must also provide restrooms that are accessible during all transit service hours, which may be shared with an adjacent restaurant or cafe tenant, according to the document.

Caltrain also requests space for a minimum of 29 electronic bicycle lockers and allocate a 500-square-foot space for a bicycle sharing station, according to the document.

Overall, Caltrain seeks to integrate its new development with projects in the surrounding area, Ackemann said.

The Hayward Park Caltrain station parking lot is directly west of the proposed Station Park Green residential and mixed-use development and across the street from the proposed Hines office complex development.

EBL&S Development submitted a formal application last month to redevelop the 12-acre Station Park Green site on Delaware Street into 599 residential units, up to 15,000 square feet of space, up to 30,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space and 2 acres of open space. The Planning Commission held a study session on the application Aug. 26.

The Hines Development, also known as the 92 and Delaware Office, is a proposal to turn the corner of Concar Drive and South Delaware Street into 276,467 square feet of office space with 139,573 square feet of surface and underground parking. The location is the current site of Telecenter Appliances.

According to the document, Station Park Green, Caltrain’s proposed development and the Hayward Park train station need to be integrated and enhance the connections through the transit-oriented neighborhood.

Currently, fewer trains stop at the Hayward Park station in comparison to others such as San Mateo or the Hillsdale stations and, in 2011, Caltrain considered closing the station because of budget cuts.

Ackemann said with electrification in the works and new transit-oriented developments nearby, Caltrain anticipates it will become one of the busier stations.

“It’s a good time to move forward with some kind of redevelopment,” Ackemann said. “It’s [part of Caltrain’s] long-term considerations on how we continue to grow and plan our rail service in the area.”

For more information about the redevelopment of Caltrain’s Hayward Park station parking lot, visit www.caltrain.com.

samantha@smdailyjournal.com

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