On a mission to fix a 'sick' Peninsula

Ionescu doesn't mince words and doesn't apologize for views that sometimes shock people. His goal is simple: Get people talking about the future of Silicon Valley and how to accommodate its growing population and outrageous real estate market.

Ionescu's message is being heard loud and clear by local leaders and slowly making its way to the general public. His name recognition grew a few months ago when he proposed a large-scale mixed-used development at the site of Burlingame's downtown Safeway. The controversial project caught the attention of council members and sparked a study of downtown Burlingame.

He also appeared at the annual progress seminar in Monterey for regional leaders. With cigarettes in his shirt pocket and shaggy hair, Ionescu, 54, doesn't quite fit with the politicians he speaks too. However, he earns their respect.

"He has no ax to grind and he tells it how it is," said San Mateo Councilman John Lee, one of about 65 people on hand to hear Ionescu speak last night in San Carlos.

Lee also said Ionescu isn't given enough credit in his own community.

Ionescu lives in Belmont, works in San Mateo and does much of his shopping in Burlingame. A world-class architect with a deep understanding of city planning, Ionescu's quest to change the Peninsula began with a startling realization.

His eldest daughter, 27 years old and well educated, couldn't afford a home on the Peninsula.

"My wife and I are using every trick to keep [our daughters] close to home," Ionescu said. "It occurred to me that I do things all over the world and no one looks at anything here. We are Silicon Valley and we a derelict."

When Ionescu moved to the Bay Area as a political refugee from Romania, he had no more than his wife, eldest daughter and backpack. Two years later, he started his own firm and has been building world-class buildings ever since.

He spends his time at offices in San Mateo, Madrid, Oslo, Shanghai and Buenos Aires. He also lectures at Stanford University. He loves the Peninsula and simply can't stand to see it die from the "blood bath" of urban sprawl.

"Let's save the green because, honestly, we don't know what we're doing," he said to last night's crowd. "We are like children. We don't have the maturity to know how cities are done."

His outspoken attitude is helping build a growing interest among the masses in affordable housing and mixed-used developments.

"There is a growing number of people who are into it at the grass-roots level," said Christopher Mohr, executive director of the Housing Leadership Council, sponsor of last night's event.

The event also highlighted a plan to revitalize El Camino Real. The "grand boulevard" plan aims at adding mixed-used developments along El Camino Real in Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, Colma and Daly City. The San Mateo County Transit District, or SamTrans, is promoting it.

Ionescu doesn't agree with all the ideas presented by SamTrans, but he does promote its promotion of high-density housing.

He doesn't expect everyone to agree with him either. Instead, he wants people to travel and seek their own answers. If people have the chance to see the coastal city of Monte Carlo or the well-designed streets of Madrid they might understand that high-density housing doesn't mean increased traffic.

"Height is not a problem." Ionescu said. "Design maybe is a problem, but height is never a problem."

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.