Public plaza joins Millbrae mixed-use development

“Nice, but …,” Councilmember Gina Papan said. “It’s very pleasant to look at, I like the ground lighting, all of that, but if we really want this to be a meeting place, I would like to see some infrastructure. I don’t see people coming out of their way to use this, but I don’t know what’s going to be in the commercial aspect of this building.” 

The planned six-story, mixed-use development adjacent to the proposed plaza will have a bottom floor of commercial space and 278 residential apartments, per 2022 plans. 

Developers said it was too soon to say what specific tenants would lease the commercial space on the bottom floor adjacent to the plaza, but they had a similar vision of restaurants and coffee shops that would draw visitors. 

Building tenants would be allowed to use the plaza for outdoor dining, Community Development Director Andrew Mogensen said. 

The plaza could mirror elements of San Jose’s Santana Row if the appropriate retailers are given space, Mayor Anders Fung said. 

“You have a designer coffee spot, you have seating around there, anywhere between 20-30 people, so that could be possible for something like this,” he said, also bringing up the idea of a wine bar. “I think that would certainly fit the criteria of, ‘up the game.’ I think there’s an opportunity there to make that corner … extremely popular.”

Food trucks could also be incorporated into the space, Papan suggested. 

Councilmember Ann Schneider voiced several suggestions for the $3.5 million project — which will be funded by the developer’s park impact fees — including a railing to keep children safe and drought-tolerant plants. 

“I think this is very exciting, just to have a beautiful area like this with the greenery and lighting. I think will definitely have the community attracted to use this,” Councilmember Angelina Cahalan said.

holly@smdailyjournal.com

(650) 344-5200 ext. 105