Saranap Village Update: New Architects,
County Planners Assigned, Roundabout Design
JULY 17, 2013—With a new architect on board and the first phase of its community outreach campaign complete, Hall Equities Group (HEG) is refining plans for its proposed Saranap Village project, with a late-summer timeframe for completing a formal application. The Walnut Creek-based developer has apparently decided on at least one aspect of the design: a roundabout at the intersection of Boulevard Way and Saranap Avenue.
HEG describes Saranap Village on its website as “an opportunity to transform a semi-blighted commercial and industrial area into a distinct commercial village with its own unique character and identity.” The development would be centered at the Boulevard Way–Saranap Avenue intersection. It would include “approximately 325 for-sale and for-rent housing units in three multi-level structures above approximately 22,000 square feet of street-level retail shops.”
New architects. On its website, HEG lists MBH Architects of Alameda as project architect. MBH replaces Loving & Campos Architects of Walnut Creek, which did the initial conceptual design. HEG President and CEO Mark Hall had said at an orientation for SCA board members in May that his company was considering switching architects so as not to overextend Loving & Campos, which he said has a long-standing relationship with HEG and is currently working on other projects for the firm.
County planners assigned. The Department of Conservation and Development has assigned two senior planners to the Saranap Village project. Patrick Roach, the department’s chief of advanced planning, will be responsible for HEG’s General Plan amendment, rezoning applications, and other policy-related matters, including infrastructure and the environmental impact report. Will Nelson will address the project development plan and subdivision maps and other site-specific and architecture- and building-related issues.
The board of supervisors in May authorized county staff to study a proposed General Plan amendment for the project.
Roundabout design. During a series of community open houses and orientations in May, Hall representatives asked for participants’ input on the design of the roundabout that would be located where Boulevard Way and Saranap Avenue meet. The HEG site now says that it will feature a “public fountain surrounding a signature public art structure.”
The site says a second roundabout, at Boulevard Way and Flora Avenue, would contain a raised planter with a large Valley Oak tree. HEG said at the open houses in May that the tree would be the one now located in the parking lot at 1300 Boulevard Way, property that would be incorporated into the development.
The Saranap Village website, which included numerous images of the project based on the initial design concept, had been taken offline in mid-July. HEG has said they’ll publish a project update on the site in August.
Hall Equities Group will make a presentation about Saranap Village at the SCA’s annual meeting August 15. [link]
To see examples of projects MBH Architects has worked on, visit their website.
HEG describes Saranap Village on its website as “an opportunity to transform a semi-blighted commercial and industrial area into a distinct commercial village with its own unique character and identity.” The development would be centered at the Boulevard Way–Saranap Avenue intersection. It would include “approximately 325 for-sale and for-rent housing units in three multi-level structures above approximately 22,000 square feet of street-level retail shops.”
New architects. On its website, HEG lists MBH Architects of Alameda as project architect. MBH replaces Loving & Campos Architects of Walnut Creek, which did the initial conceptual design. HEG President and CEO Mark Hall had said at an orientation for SCA board members in May that his company was considering switching architects so as not to overextend Loving & Campos, which he said has a long-standing relationship with HEG and is currently working on other projects for the firm.
County planners assigned. The Department of Conservation and Development has assigned two senior planners to the Saranap Village project. Patrick Roach, the department’s chief of advanced planning, will be responsible for HEG’s General Plan amendment, rezoning applications, and other policy-related matters, including infrastructure and the environmental impact report. Will Nelson will address the project development plan and subdivision maps and other site-specific and architecture- and building-related issues.
The board of supervisors in May authorized county staff to study a proposed General Plan amendment for the project.
Roundabout design. During a series of community open houses and orientations in May, Hall representatives asked for participants’ input on the design of the roundabout that would be located where Boulevard Way and Saranap Avenue meet. The HEG site now says that it will feature a “public fountain surrounding a signature public art structure.”
The site says a second roundabout, at Boulevard Way and Flora Avenue, would contain a raised planter with a large Valley Oak tree. HEG said at the open houses in May that the tree would be the one now located in the parking lot at 1300 Boulevard Way, property that would be incorporated into the development.
The Saranap Village website, which included numerous images of the project based on the initial design concept, had been taken offline in mid-July. HEG has said they’ll publish a project update on the site in August.
Hall Equities Group will make a presentation about Saranap Village at the SCA’s annual meeting August 15. [link]
To see examples of projects MBH Architects has worked on, visit their website.