New Los Altos Community Center, Housing Plans Advancing

LOS ALTOS, CA — The city of Los Altos is moving and shaking on new structures coming on board.

A groundbreaking for the new Los Altos Community Center will take place on Oct. 8 scheduled for 10 a.m. in the parking lot at the current Hillview Community Center site on Hillview Avenue that has shown wear over the years.

The new 24,500-square-foot Los Altos Community Center includes a community room, 3 multipurpose rooms, meeting rooms, catering kitchen and dedicated spaces for seniors, teens and the city-run preschool program.

Through the efforts of Noll & Tam Architects & Planners, the building has been designed to achieve LEED Gold certification with solar panels. It will feature a pathway connecting the library and the community center. Construction costs amount to $38 million.

To make way for the building of the new project, parking at the Civic Center site has been reduced until it's complete. Those attending the groundbreaking are encouraged to carpool, bike, walk, or take public transportation or ride-sharing to the event.

Community members may sign up to receive project updates via email by subscribing to the ‘New Community Center’ email list at www.losaltosca.gov/enotify.

More information about the project is available on the project webpage at www.losaltosca.gov/communitycenter and questions may be sent to communitycenter@losaltosca.gov.

From Los Altos social settings to housing

With housing the hottest topic in town and throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, any headway to provide it gets the attention of civic leaders.

Following a resounding favorable reaction from a public hearing on Sept. 5, the Los Altos Planning Commission will move forward with a new 196-unit, multi-family project over 3.8 acres at 5150 El Camino Real —the namesake of the pending project.

The proposal includes 24 three-story townhouse units in the rear of the site and 172 condominium apartments in two five-story buildings along El Camino Real with one level of underground parking. As part of the proposal, 28 affordable units —12 moderate- and 16 very-low income apartments — will join plans for a 78,950 square-foot, three-story office building with parking surrounding the building. It's also located on the major Peninsula thoroughfare where it connects with the Rengstorff Avenue.

The project is expected to come before the City Council on Oct. 22. More information about the project can be found on the City’s New Development page.