Category: Local Businesses

Around the Terrace: January 15, 2021

Here are some recent announcements and news stories of interest to College Terrace and the surrounding area.

Country Sun Open Again
After a brief closure last week, Country Sun is now open with shorter than their usual hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 9am-5pm.

California Avenue Tree Trimming
The City Urban Forestry staff will be teaming up with an arborist from West Coast Arborists (WCA) to prune the trees on California Avenue beginning Tuesday, January 19th. They expect that this will be completed in 1 or 2 days and will necessitate a few No Parking signs. Following that, they will be doing some pruning on Cambridge, most likely 4 -5 days of work. Any questions? Ask Derek Sprout, Project Manager in the City’s Urban Forestry Section; his email is Derek.Sproat@CityofPaloAlto.org.

College Terrace Centre Sold to New Investor
The building that houses the new Real Produce International Market, First Republic Bank, and other businesses, was sold in late December to new investors for just over $100 million. The previous owners, investment firms Blox Ventures and Angelo Gordon, purchased the property in June 2018 for $78.5 million.

Seeking CTRA Volunteers for 2021-22
After canceling last year’s annual meeting and board election, the CTRA is hoping to hold both this spring. We have a number of roles to fill on the CTRA board; if you’re interested, email ctra-president@collegeterrace.org for more information.

New Market Coming to College Terrace Centre

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Is the third time the charm? A new grocery store plans to open at College Terrace Centre before the end of the year. Run by Khaled Taffi and his partners, Real Produce Market will fill the space previously occupied by the College Terrace Market and Khoury’s Market. Teffi runs two wholesale produce businesses in the area, as well as another retail grocery store in San Jose.

As the name suggests, Real Produce plans to offer locally sourced produce (with a focus on organic) and as well as groceries and specialty items from near and far. In addition, there will be a deli, butcher, grab and go area, fresh flowers and coffee. For further plans, read the city staff’s report recommending approval of the project. It includes a letter from Teffi as well as an overview of the proposed business.

The City Council will vote to approve plans for the market at their Monday, November 16 meeting. Residents are encouraged to send feedback to the council at city.council@cityofpaloalto.org before the meeting.

Around the Terrace: June 25, 2020

Here are some recent announcements and news stories of interest to College Terrace and the surrounding area.

Cameron Park Renovation Project Meeting on July 2 at 6:30pm
The second online community meeting for the Cameron Park renovation project will be next Thursday, July 2, at 6:30pm. Email Jeanette.serna@cityofpaloalto.org to RSVP. The Parks and Recreation Commission will also discuss the project at their upcoming meeting on Tuesday, June 30, at 7pm. To participate in this meeting  please visit the commission’s home page the day of the meeting for the link.

Like California Ave, University Ave Will Close to Traffic
After the success of closing California Avenue to traffic to make room for outdoor dining and retail, the City Council voted to do the same on University Avenue between High Street and Cowper Street starting on July 3. (University Avenue will also be closed this weekend.)

Stanford Dish to Reopen in Early July
Stanford is actively preparing to reopen the Dish area, with the goal of allowing visitors again in early July. Changes include the installation of a new pedestrian access gate at Stanford Avenue and temporary signage throughout the Dish area, as well as the smoothing of areas next to the pathway to allow more room for passing.

Around the Terrace: April 22, 2020

Here are some recent announcements and news stories of interest to College Terrace and the surrounding area.

City of Palo Alto Coronavirus Daily Report
If you haven’t already subscribed, this is an excellent daily email from the City of Palo Alto that includes news from the city and county, online events, and resources for families and businesses.

Palo Alto Braces for $30 Million Revenue Loss
At Monday’s City Council meeting, City Manager Ed Shikada presented potential options to address the city’s projected revenue shortfall due to the pandemic. These options included closing library branches, scrapping its shuttle program, and suspending plans to spur housing production.

Stanford COVID-19 Community Town Hall
Join Stanford Medicine’s Office of Community Engagement this Thursday at 3:30pm for a virtual Town Hall on the COVID-19 outbreak. A panel of health experts will discuss current recommendations for shelter-at-home and social distancing, share latest COVID-19 research efforts at Stanford, and answer community submitted questions. Pre-register and a Zoom link will be sent before the town hall begins.

Grocery Store Penalties at City Council on Monday

Greetings to neighbors and others who supported Khoury’s Market and want to voice your concerns either in writing or in person to the City Council for its Monday, February 10th meeting.

Two items on Monday’s agenda are related to the market and the monetary penalties incurred due to the failure of the owners (past and present) of College Terrace Centre to provide for a grocery store as agreed to in a restrictive covenant of 2014. The items are numbers 3 and 9 on the City Council’s meeting agenda – read the agenda here.

Starting with number 9, because this is more easily grasped, is a proposed amendment to the City’s administrative penalty schedule to correct a long overdue oversight and increase the penalties to the intended amount beginning at $2,000 per day.  Please write the City Council that you are in favor of these needed changes at city.council@cityofpaloalto.org.

Item number 3, which will be heard earlier in a closed session, relates to existing litigation brought by the property owners against the City of Palo Alto questioning the penalties, including whether the city has the right to enact any penalties at all. While the City argues the penalties are legal, the City has not stated whether it intends to try and recoup the lost revenue due to the oversight and delay in implementing the fines in the amount of $250,000.

Pressing for this money would not only increase pressure on the owners to provide a market but also add to the funds for which these fines are earmarked, i.e., community benefits. If you agree the City should pursue this lost revenue, either come to the City Council meeting and speak at 6:15pm or email the City Council at city.council@cityofpaloalto.org.

–Ann Balin