San Bruno housing development moves ahead

Architect Moshe Dinar lauded the decision, claiming the vote marked a significant step forward for the project proposed at the corner of Huntington Avenue.

“It feels great. It took us a long time. But we are happy to be here and we are looking forward to going before the City Council and getting the building permits,” he said.

Dinar said he is uncertain when the project will arrive before councilmembers, who will have an opportunity to issue a final blessing.

For his part, Dinar suggested he believes the project stands to inject new life into the neighborhood surrounding the site currently occupied by a vacant commercial building.

“It will revitalize that whole area of San Bruno. It will provide housing for people who would like to use public transportation, because it is right across the street from the transit center. It will make the area safer with the retail and small cafe. And it will provide 11 units of affordable housing.”

Ten studios, 22 one-bedroom units, 29 two-bedroom units and one three-bedroom unit will be spread across the building’s top four stories, ranging in size from 550 square feet to more than 2,200 square feet. The ground floor will host 7,000 square feet of commercial and retail space, to be occupied by a small eatery.

The building will include units that are for sale and rent, and 11 will be set aside at an affordable rate. Six units will be reserved for those considered low income, and five will be reserved for those with moderate incomes. Income levels are assessed according to local earning data, making a family of two earning about $84,000 low income and $92,000 moderate income, according to the developer’s proposal.

Mechanical lifts would accommodate much of the building’s parking, including 78 residential spaces and six commercial spaces. Another seven commercial spaces would be offered outside of the lift systems. Each residential unit will be offered bicycle parking, and additional bikes spots will be available for the commercial space too.

The building will also feature a roof deck and gym for residents, and more open space will be established toward the rear.

Dinar said commissioners did not seek to significantly amend his proposal, for which he credited the significant amount of feedback he’s received from city officials and community members throughout the application process.

“We’ve gone through a lot of community and neighborhood meetings, and it fulfills all the visions that I think the city has for that area,” he said.

The project is just one of a slew of proposals offered around downtown San Bruno or along El Camino Real, as more than 500 units, 50,000 square feet of commercial space and a new hotel are among the projects under construction or in the planning pipeline.

For his part, Dinar suggested work by city officials to make San Bruno a more desirable development destination should be credited for the uptick in building proposals recently.

“I think this is the result of the city taking a step forward and developing the transit area master plan … these development opportunities have been presented to real estate developers so that’s how these things happen, when the city actually takes the first step,” he said, citing the plan officials established promoting building in the downtown corridor near the Caltrain station.

As it relates to his project, Dinar said he is confident it will be an asset to the surrounding neighborhood, should councilmembers grant final approval.

“We just think it’s a great project and it will make a big improvement to the area,” he said.

austin@smdailyjournal.com

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