Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Merlone Geier aims to begin the second construction phase in 2040. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal). This is a carousel. The Mall ownership has not proposed housing at this time. Portions of the mall roof would be removed to return to the outdoor shopping experience before the center was closed in during the mid-1980s. It was managed by The Macerich Company until 2017 and is now managed by Merlone Geier Partners. The current zoning for the mall property (General Commercial), allows gas stations in the zone, subject to a Conditional Use Permit. He is the author of two books: "Here Tomorrow" (Heyday, 2013) and "High Spirits" (Heyday, 2015). Get Directions. As comments are received they will be periodically added to thePublic Commentspage. Andy Neff, a representative for Merlone Geier, confirmed that. The Pre Application process allows an applicant to receive: 1) preliminary feedback from the City, including code requirements, 2) capacity review from utility providers, and 3) roadmap for any subsequent permits or processes required by the City to process the formal application. Contact or Call . Retail as an enclosed mall is dead, Logan said. The first is scheduled for 6 p.m. on March 30 and the second for 6 p.m. on April 20. San Rafael residents vet Northgate mall housing, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), San Rafael residents vet Northgate mall housing plan, Marin Municipal Water District selects strategy for new water supplies, Marin company proposes housing projects in South Bay, Rain and cold return to Marin County this weekend, Marin education panel opposes Novato charter school, Marin DA's office hit with racial discrimination claims, Drought is now over in more than half of California, including the Bay Area, feds say, Former San Quentin guard sentenced for cellphone smuggling, Novato City Council approves theater sale agreement, San Rafael workplace murder suspect convicted, Santa Rosa high school student stabbed to death in classroom, California extends Bay Area tax deadlines to match IRS, Novato police arrest burglary suspect after scuffle, San Rafael still lagging on prior housing quota, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Mall Directory. Among the announced layoffs was BJs Restaurants, which said it would close the San Rafael location at Northgate mall on April 12. Also envisioned for the first phase would be the transformation of the Century movie complex, including for IMAX features. In North Hollywood, the Noho West center has residential next to office and retail spaces. The state has mandated that San Rafael approve 3,220 new residences by 2031. Making the height Exception findings will be difficult. The closure will also affect 90 employees who work at. San Rafael, CA 94903. Why not consider housing in this location instead? Walking and biking paths would be built throughout the property and new standalone retail stores and restaurants would be built along Las Gallinas Avenue. Merlone Geier plans to hold virtual community forums about the redevelopment master plan on March 30 and April 20. Adrian Rodriguez covers transportation, San Rafael and the Ross Valley for the Marin IJ. General Mall Hours ~ What Time does the Mall Open/Close Today? It is the only enclosed regional shopping center in Marin County. If you have questions or comments about this project, please submit them in advanceto Project Planner. Grace Geraghty, co-founder and longtime North San Rafael resident, said Costco had been very unpopular because of fear that it would clog the streets with cars and hurt air quality in the area. More information on the project is atcityofsanrafael.org/northgate-town-square. Why are other locations not being considered (near Target or the former Orchard Supply Hardware)? Enclosed malls have been shuttered for extended periods during the coronavirus pandemic that began in March 2020. It's the largest of three shopping centers in San Rafael called Northgate. The requirement for Conceptual Review was initiated in 2005 as a means to allow both the public and the City early input on a project, before plans are fully developed. Under the new plan, it would have 2,311 parking spaces, including 1,789 public spaces not reserved for the apartment buildings. . This one's at Slippery Rock. With malls struggling across the country, property owners are increasingly looking at housing as both an alternative to brick-and-mortar retail but also a way to create a built-in customer base for future shopkeepers and restaurateurs. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen. FILE: The BJ's Restaurant location at Northgate Mall in San Rafael is expected to close in April. Jeff Quackenbush covers wine, construction and real estate. The traffic study will also look at traffic safety in relation to pedestrians and bicycles. Photos outside of town are hard to find (at least in digital archives), but pics of a few stagecoaches follow. Disclaimer: The Governors Office of Planning and Research (OPR) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. The WARN letter indicated the employees are working remotely in locations throughout the Bay Area and other states. Improve the visual connection to the mail by incorporating some of the existing material palette i.e., (more stone, less concrete). The second phase has a much longer time frame tentatively circa 2040 and includes up to 460 more apartments plus revamped retail spaces and more open areas. Nodecisions or official action on the projectwill be madeduring this study sessions. The more density for housing, the more open green space we can keep.. Situated 20 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Northgate Mall today features an anchor lineup, a Century Theatres, a variety of specialty stores, services and restaurants. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal), The former Sears store at Northgate Mall and surrounding area is seen in San Rafael on Thursday, March 11, 2021. The development of the new Northgate Mall is a long-range . The site is designated as mixed use in the 2040 General Plan. Temporary move: 6000 Northgate Dr, San Rafael, CA 94903. In addition, technical studies (i.e. The next steps, should Costco choose to purse this project, are is listed below in the Frequently Asked Questions section. A new plan to redevelop the Northgate mall in San Rafael calls for building 1,356 apartments, transforming the shopping center into an open-air complex and scrapping a proposal for a Costco store that drew backlash from neighbors. Plan Set Submitted July 26, 2019 for Conceptual Design Review/Pre-Application. (Provided by City of San Rafael), Artist's rendering for proposed development at Northgate Mall shows a view of a community park. Wife of missing Bay Area radio host says Jeffrey Vandergrift will not Last chance to see: Bay Bridge lights turn off on Sunday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein is hospitalized in San Francisco with shingles, California extends deadline to file 2022 income taxes to match IRS decision, Going to Tahoe this weekend? For more information Click. Current major tenants within the mall include Century Theatre, Macys, Kohls, Rite Aid, and HomeGoods. Merlone Geier presented the new plan to members of the group this week. For more information, please visit OPRs Accessibility Site. Get hot deals, the inside scoop and special promotions all available through our exclusive profiles. Is government-run social housing the solution to the Bay Areas affordability crisis? BJ's Restaurant is cutting 90 jobs due to its decision to permanently close its restaurant in San Rafael's Northgate Mall on April 12. Restaurant and department store hours may vary. Posted on September 16, 2019. Natalie Hanson reports on breaking news, police and fire and criminal justice. The first, which Merlone Geier aims to begin in 2025, involves demolishing portions of the indoor mall, in addition to the former Sears building and the HomeGoods store, which would be relocated. We see a lot that we like. The second phase calls for building two five-story apartment buildings with a combined 460 residences. Square feet. If you have questions or comments about this project, please submit them in advanceto Project Planner,Tricia Stevens. Open Menu Close Menu. Minted, an online marketplace and platform for independent artists and designers, is cutting six jobs at a Hayward manufacturing plant that will be closed down. Another phase would not take place until 2040. Similar projects are under way at malls in Newark and Richmond, although the pandemic has slowed some of these plans. The BJs location at Northgate Mall in San Rafael is set to permanently close April 12, the San Francisco Business Times reports. Project is solely designed for car access and needs to pay attention to pedestrians, Ensure that traffic study is comprehensive and extends to greater are than just around mall. If a formal application is submitted to the City, this web page will be updated and we will use the interested parties list (in the stay informed section below) to pass on any updates if we receive a formal application. But they'll cost you, Fight at high school basketball game in S.F. The City recently approved the Northgate Walk project, how will potential traffic impacts of new housing be taken into consideration in determining approval? In its place, Costco is proposing to build a new 146,958 sq ft Costco Warehouse Center, including a 141,773 sq ft warehouse, 5,185 sq ft attached tire center, along with a detached fueling station. The housing component would include 911 homes in six apartment buildings no more than five stories tall. Critical Ideas, which does business as Chipper Cash, will cut 49 jobs based out of the San Francisco headquarters. Reach the author at arodriguez@marinij.com or follow Adrian on Twitter: @adrianrrodri. The company warned that the job cuts could occur throughout 2023, depending on demand for warehouse and shipping work at the Port of Oakland. The owner of the Mall, Merlone Geier has indicated that housing is still an option that they will consider in the future. San Rafael (Northgate) 5800 Northgate Mall, Suite 51 San Rafael CA 94903 (415) 472-2265. Vegetation on the site consists of ornamental landscaping, including landscaped strips along the boundaries of the site that contain street trees and shrubs, planters with trees within the surface parking lot, and some mature trees located adjacent to the existing buildings. Overall, the project aims to mix transit-oriented housing with community space, retail and restaurants. ATTENTION: Online services for the Business License Division and Transient Occupancy (Hotel) Tax will be unavailable starting 02/24/2023 at 3:30pm. Logan added that parking for residents is a major issue. At this point, the decision to pursue the project is for Costco/Northgate Mall to make and if they do, if and how they want propose the revise the plans. Shops & Services. No binding decisions are made as a result, Given the public interest in this project, the City has also suggested that the Planning Commission review the Conceptual Design Review application in order to weigh in on land use matters, (ie. The development team for Merlone Geier Partners, including staffer Stephen Logan, reminded the group that the original plans for the site with a Costco were disliked by the community. What applications have been filed and how/when will those be reviewed? Project Contact Tricia Stevens, Project Planner at (916) 698-4592 or. Merlone Geier Partners, a real estate investment firm that bought the mall in 2017, is proposing to build 1,345 housing units and a town center for the Terra Linda neighborhood. New plan for San Rafaels Northgate mall: 1,356, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), New plan for San Rafaels Northgate mall: 1,356 apartments, no Costco, San Rafael council candidates frame visions for Northgate, housing, Dick Spotswood: San Rafael keeps eye on Northgate as possible priority development area, Marin Voice: Northgate needs a comprehensive mixed-use plan, Marin Municipal Water District selects strategy for new water supplies, Marin company proposes housing projects in South Bay, Rain and cold return to Marin County this weekend, Marin education panel opposes Novato charter school, Marin DA's office hit with racial discrimination claims, Drought is now over in more than half of California, including the Bay Area, feds say, Former San Quentin guard sentenced for cellphone smuggling, Novato City Council approves theater sale agreement, San Rafael workplace murder suspect convicted, Santa Rosa high school student stabbed to death in classroom, California extends Bay Area tax deadlines to match IRS, Novato police arrest burglary suspect after scuffle, San Rafael still lagging on prior housing quota, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Merlone Geier is set to host two online meetings to discuss the proposal this spring. NORTHGATE MALL - Northgate Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903; Request Photos or Floorplans. See Store Hours. Merlone Geier Partners, a real estate investment firm based in San Francisco, is seeking to build 1,320 new residences on the 45-acre site in Terra Linda. The Citys current General Plan identifies LOS standards for both AM (weekdays 7-9am) and PM peak hours (weekdays 4-6pm). She's a Bay Area native. Northgate address: 5800 Northgate Mall, San Rafael, California - CA 94903. A copy of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act document filed by the chain Feb. 10 revealed that BJs will be offering all affected team members transfers to other Company restaurants.. Merlone Geier Partners, a real estate investment. 0. The project includes two construction phases. Eliminate tall wall sections by Increasing articulation along all or portions of all elevations, particularly along the south and north elevations. The project would be surrounded by stores, restaurants and a remodeled IMAX Century Theater. Retail. Email her at Susana.Guerrero@sfgate.com, BJs Restaurant to permanently close Bay Area mall location, Horoscope for Friday, 3/03/23 by Christopher Renstrom, Wife of Jeffrey Vandergrift issues somber update, No seriously, dont drive up to Tahoe this weekend, The best fried chicken is at a San Francisco strip club, Scream publicity stunt floods Bay Area dispatch with 911 calls, Snowboarder dies at Tahoe ski resort following historic blizzard, Arrest in killing of woman seen running through Tahoe campground, Rain reenters Bay Area forecast: Have an umbrella near you, The Warriors broke Russell Westbrook, just like old times, Mochi muffin bakery closes SF cafe after just 4 months, Two more Shake Shack restaurants head to the Bay Area, Father and two girls stranded in snowstorm for 13 hours, New report shows thousands of workers have left downtown SF, Bald eagles nesting at Bay Area golf course could lay eggs 'any day now', How much snow did Tahoe get? Address and locations: 5800 Northgate Mall, San Rafael, California - CA 94903. sends student to hospital, Heres how much rain and snow is on the way this weekend, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Ninety jobs are affected. The Commissions focus is on land use matters (ie traffic, noise, parking, land use compatibility). Thats if Kohls and Macys go away, Logan said. The first work would involve demolishing the former Sears store, which has been temporarily used partly as an RH outlet store, and its related spaces to make way for 898 apartments. The second phase also calls for building two five-story apartment buildings with a combined 460 residences. This is not a city-sponsored project, therefore the City does not decide where to propose new projects. The appropriateness of a gas station and evaluation of any potential impacts will be considered through the public review process. Ninety jobs are affected. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal), The former Sears store at Northgate Mall is seen in San Rafael on Thursday, March 11, 2021. Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday-Friday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM The Thursday Marin Farmers Market is known as the local chef's market welcoming premier chefs from around the Bay Area seeking out the freshest ingredients of the season. It's the largest of three shopping centers in San Rafael called Northgate. Logan said, We can offer a better and more diverse type of affordable housing in there. He said other housing will take 10 or 12 years, and affordable apartments will be built more quickly. The first phase also calls for building four apartment buildings on the southern and eastern edges of the property with a combined 896 residences. and our Evernote, a software company that has developed a note-taking app, will eliminate 65 positions in Redwood City. This Study Session is an opportunity for early Planning Commission and Design Review Board project feedback on land use and design and allows early opportunity for public input. An estimated 333 jobs, including both tech and non-tech industries, are being lost in the Bay Area as a result of the most recent layoff decisions, a review of the WARN letters shows. Bill Carney of Sustainable San Rafael called for building as many affordable residences as possible. New multiuse paths would wind through the complex, and the developers have committed to supporting offsite bicycle and pedestrian improvements linking to the SMART Civic Center station. But they long-term leaseholds and no intention of their going away. Since the announcement last spring that Northgate could become housing mixed with retail, there have been about two dozen meetings with various stakeholders. The Design Review Board voted 4-0 . (415) 499-5200. According to its website it's one of the. 1,033. A developer wants to convert Northgate Mall in San Rafael to an open-air shopping center, replacing some of the retail space with apartments. The latest job cut announcements will eliminate well over 300 more jobs in the Bay Area, according to WARN letters sent to the state Employment Development Department, a requirement of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. The purpose is for the City through a public process to provide preliminary feedback on the proposed design direction. Whether affected staffers retain their positions at neighboring BJs restaurants is uncertain. Northgate will offer all-new shopping offerings from boutique to national brands with a transition to an all-outdoor shopping, dining, entertainment and lifestyle destination, with walking paths and gathering spaces connecting all areas. A public hearing on the proposal has not been scheduled. Those days are gone, but with a walkable mix of shopping, plazas, entertainment and housing, it could once again be a draw. Housing is key to spurring a resurgence of retail activity, because living spaces are used daily, and having markets and fast-casual dining next door will generate more trips to the retail areas, Logan said. It looked at the benefits of holding on to Costco versus seeking a more residential-focused project with a gathering place for the neighborhood a specialty grocer or food hall and a new expanded movie theater. Rating: 2.7/5 (7 rates) Make a Review: Phone number: (415) 479-5956: State: California: Area/City: Sign up today. The Pre Application process has been completed. Costco and Merlone Geier (owner of Northgate Mall) have applied for a Conceptual Review/Pre Application to solicit preliminary feedback from the City and the public for a Costco at this location. To view all public comments received through January 6, 2020, please click here. Among the announced layoffs was BJ's Restaurants, which said it would close the San Rafael location at Northgate mall on April 12. It involves demolishing 645,312 square feet of commercial space, including the buildings that house Macys and Kohls if those businesses decide to end their leases at the mall. If the applicant decides to pursue the project, their next step would be to formally submit any required applications to the City for formal review. NOP - Notice of Preparation of a Draft EIR. The Planning Commission meeting on the Conceptual application is scheduled for October 15, 2019. The plan comes at a time when San Rafael will have to triple its housing production to comply with the state Regional Housing Needs Allocation numbers. On November 14, 2019, Forever 21announced that the Northgate Mall location would be closing along with 21 other locations in California and 90 locations nationwide. Workers at both companies were given pay and benefits rather than 60 days notice of their layoffs. The BJ's location at Northgate Mall in San Rafael is set to permanently close April 12, the San Francisco Business Times reports. BJs continues to operate 11 locations in the Bay Area, as well as several across the U.S. The company is proposing two project phases: the construction of 907 residences starting in 2025, followed by 413 homes beginning in 2040. Join us for the next meeting of the Policing in our Community series: 3/8/2023, 6:00-8:00pm, Albert J. Boro Community Center at Pickleweed Park or Virtually. For more information Click. View photos and contact a broker. He joined The Chronicle in 2014 covering San Francisco land use politics for the City Hall team. Specialties: With its scenic splendor, unique cultural attractions and events, and close proximity to San Francisco, Marin County is both a "must-see" West Coast destination and a renowned bedroom community for the Bay Area's most affluent residents. The owner of the Northgate Mall in north San Rafael has unveiled plans for where it wants to take the regional shopping center in the next three decades, and that includes hundreds of apartments and a return to the open-air shopping experience there over three decades ago. Ft. 225100, Acres 44.76, Employees 1), Aesthetics, Air Quality, Cultural Resources, Cumulative Effects, Drainage/Absorption, Flood Plain/Flooding, Geology/Soils, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Growth Inducement, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Mandatory Findings of Significance, Noise, Population/Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Schools/Universities, Sewer Capacity, Solid Waste, Transportation, Tribal Cultural Resources, Utilities/Service Systems, Copyright reports on traffic, air quality, etc) required for formal submittal are not submitted during conceptual review. The store, which has been in operation for over 20 years, is said to be shutting its doors for good in the next few weeks. The housing component offers that 24-hour-a-day presence and activity that energizes a place that has lost its mojo, if you will, Geiser said. Local, regional and national restaurants will then be added. The first phase in 2025 includes the demolition of the former Sears store, the HomeGoods building and approximately 140,932 square feet of the mall. Susan Coleman of Responsible Growth in Marin asked the developer to disperse affordable units equitably. They will resume 02/27/2023 at 10:00am. Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area. Although not yet required by State law, the traffic study will also evaluate the project in terms of Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT), a new methodology established by the State to be used as the metric for evaluating traffic in CEQA documents, starting in July 2020. [4] Renovation[edit] Macerich began renovating the mall in 2008. On Tuesday, September 14th at 7 p.m. there will be aJoint Planning Commission and Design Review Board Study Session on the Citys YouTube Channel. Bottlenecks at the port contributed to the companys decision to slash jobs, the WARN notice said. The project would also include a 9,000-square-foot bicycle center with a repair shop, bike parking and other features. The mall would be converted to an open-air shopping center, while some of the existing retail space, including the former Sears building, would be knocked down to make way for apartments. The DRB provided the following primary comments. . We see some things we dont like so much and were looking forward to continuing to work with them., Smith said he likes that Merlone Geier incorporated housing into the plan, but the number of proposed residences seems like a lot.. Community Development Director Alicia Giudice added that there is a recycled water purple pipe near the site and residents will likely connect to it to reduce the use of potable water. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The electronics company provides communications and information technology services and is the U.S. research arm of Huawei. SFGATE also reached out to Northgate Mall to learn what business could take over BJs forthcoming vacant space but did not hear back. Map Unavailable Upcoming Events; No events in this location; Helpful; Share. The draft environmental impact report is expected to be scheduled for a Planning Commission hearing in August. Please see the City Public Meetings Page for meeting minutes and staff reports. Geraghty said that the mall was a regional attraction when it opened in the 1960s, at a time when malls were a novelty and a destination. (Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal). Architectural rendering of some of the 898 apartments and grocery retail that . San Marcos Pass, c1885 (with thanks to u/DaBooch425 for the request!). Its the way we things evolving in the future.. Conceptual Design Review is meant to provide an informal critique and evaluation of a projects basic design approach. At this point, a Major Design Review Permit, Master Use Permit amendment and Sign Program amendment would be required. Start my search; . Stephen Logan, vice president of development for Merlone Geier Partners, said that the pandemic gave the owner a chance to re-evaluate options for the 43-acre site in North San Rafael.