Silicon Valley groups are calling for a mural they say is racist to be removed from the Palo Alto branch of the Santa Clara County Superior Court. Several groups including the NAACP San Jose/Silicon Valley and Muwekma Ohlone tribe said a mural inside the hallway of the Palo Alto branch displays colonialist imagery, denigrating Native Americans....
City looks to slow down cars in push to end road fatalities
Street closures, lower speed limits and designated “school zones” with car restrictions during drop-off times are among the measures that make up Palo Alto’s new plan to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries. These programs, and dozens of others, are included in the draft Safe Streets 4 All Safety Action Plan, a 173-page document that...
The next Santana Row? Council has big plans for California Avenue
A new proposal to enhance car-free California Avenue with planters, road improvements and a playful “modern optimism” aesthetic won a warm reception on Monday night from Palo Alto’s elected leaders, whose chief regret was that the work hadn’t been done sooner. The street, which closed to cars in 2020, is up for a refresh starting...
Palo Alto teacher housing project passes the test
A proposal to build housing for educators on the site of a shuttered Travelodge motel in Palo Alto eked out a hard-fought victory on Wednesday when Palo Alto’s planning commissioners voted 3-2 to move the project forward. The Planning and Transportation Commission broadly agreed that the project is a significant upgrade from the version that...
Builders vie to construct housing on downtown Palo Alto lot
Palo Alto’s effort to transform downtown parking lots into affordable housing sites could reach a milestone later this month, when the City Council considers a new plan from the nonprofit Alta Housing to build more than 50 apartments on a Lytton Avenue lot. Alta, which three years ago completed construction of the Wilton Court, a...
Palo Alto treads lightly on artificial turf as health concerns surface
Concerned about the health and environmental impacts of synthetic turf, Palo Alto has halted its plans to resurface the playing fields at El Camino Park as it weighs the costs and benefits of plastic and grass. The turf-versus-grass debate came up last May, as the council’s Finance Committee reviewed its annual capital budget, which included...
New Palo Alto rules would curb parklet extensions
Facing criticism from downtown merchants, Palo Alto is preparing to drop a policy that allows restaurants to extend their dining areas into adjacent properties, even without consent from neighbors. The change, which the City Council will consider at its Jan. 13 meeting, aims to address arguments from retailers that expanded parklets are threatening their businesses,...
The Peninsula may be more affordable now than at the start of 2024
Buying a home on the Midpeninsula is more affordable now than at the start of 2024, according to newly released data from the California Association of Realtors. In the second half of the year, 17% of San Mateo households and 19% of Santa Clara county households could afford to purchase a median-priced home. That’s up from 16%...
Palo Alto feuds with contractor over public safety building
As Palo Alto’s most critical infrastructure project nears the finish line, the city remains embroiled in a dispute with the main contractor, a conflict that is threatening to further raise the costs of the $120-million public safety building. The project has seen numerous delays since construction kicked off in June 2021. The city’s most recent...
Palo Alto eyes upgrades for car-free California Avenue
California Avenue will finally get some love next month, when Palo Alto’s contractors start painting two-way bike lanes, implementing colored paving and installing planters at the entrance points of the eclectic retail district that expelled cars and welcomed dining tents during the early days of pandemic. The suite of improvements comprises just the first in...