Fresh look coming to Millbrae Square: Shopping center to receive new paint, sign, landscaping and more

The Millbrae Planning Commission unanimously approved the proposal to revitalize the shopping center during a meeting last month.

Planning Commissioner Catherine Quigg said she believed the variety of projects would rejuvenate the shopping center which is home to Walgreens, Starbucks, Trader Joe’s, Hallmark and other retailers.

“It’s going to look very nice, it’s going to update it,” she said. “Everybody wants to go somewhere that is new and exciting.”

The Kohl’s building, at 855 Broadway, which has sat vacant since the department store closed in 2014, will be excluded from the renovation project, according to a city report.

Planning commissioners voted in November against a proposal to allow the Central Peninsula Church to move into a portion of the first and second floor of the Kohl’s building.

Officials expressed concerns regarding the lack of revenue which could be generated for the city by allowing a religious group to fill a space they consider to be a potential hub of economic activity.

Tonya Ward, the city’s Community Development director, said an anchor tenant for the Kohl’s building is still being sought.

But to make the surrounding businesses more appealing to potential patrons, the rest of the storefronts spanning the retail center will undergo a variety of exterior improvements.

“The proposed exterior remodel, streetscape improvements, landscaping and pedestrian amenities to the Millbrae Square Shopping Center would enhance the successful economic and pedestrian activity of the Millbrae Square,” said the report.

Ward shared a similar perspective.

“This is a welcome update to the shopping center, it will enhance the overall experience of the patrons, as well as the community, with the amenities provided at the center,” she said.

Millbrae Square owner Vickie Imbimbo said she has submitted plans to begin construction and is hopeful work will get underway as soon as possible.

The projects include painting the buildings tan, with off white and dark brown accents, and adding a stone veneer band to replace an existing blue tile accent strip at the base of the wall running along the perimeter of the storefronts.

The green awning along the building facing Magnolia Avenue and Broadway will be replaced with a new dark orange fabric, and a suspended metal awning is proposed to be attached to the facade of Walgreens.

New LED light fixtures are set to be installed under the awning, which will offer a consistent color with the lighting at the nearby Safeway, according to the report.

Sidewalks will be resurfaced with new concrete, and planters are set to be refaced with a stone veneer, while new seating areas will be built near the central and southern end of the shopping center along Broadway.

Five parking spaces in front of Paris Baguette, Starbucks and Jamba Juice are set to be removed to make space for new seating areas.

Imbimbo has also proposed to hang a new sign featuring bronze letting declaring “Millbrae Square” above the entrance of the shopping center arcade walkway facing Broadway.

Officials are hopeful the renovations will enhance the commercial appeal of the shopping center, located a short distance from El Camino Real.

“The proposed finishes would update the multi-tenant commercial buildings and complement the surrounding commercial buildings,” said the report. “Street amenities, including but not limited to outdoor seating, exterior lighting, street furniture and new landscape, would help encourage more pedestrian interest and create an attractive destination for the public, while further encouraging economic activity.”

Quigg said she too hoped the project would beautify the shopping center.

“It needed to be done and I’m glad they did it,” she said. “It’s going to look beautiful.”

austin@smdailyjournal.com

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