Upfront LAND USE
COMMUNITY
Cupertino developer buys Fry’s site in Palo Alto
May Fête Parade Saturday
Site could see major land-use changes as part of Comprehensive Plan update by Gennady Sheyner
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upertino-based developer Sobrato Organization has purchased a 15-acre property in Palo Alto that includes Fry’s Electronics — a site that city officials eye as a potential location for major land-use changes. The property on Portage Avenue, close to the intersection of El Camino Real and Page Mill Road, is currently the subject of a “concept plan” Palo Alto officials are putting together as they consider new landuse designations for the area. Fry’s Electronics, the site’s most prominent tenant, has a lease extending to 2014, with a five-year option after that. Planning director Curtis Williams confirmed the sale but said it should have little effect on planning and zoning at the site. He said Sobrato informed the city several months ago about its plans to buy the site. Williams said Sobrato officials indicated they have “no immediate plans for the site,” given Fry’s existing lease and its option to extend the lease. “Sobrato is generally a highdensity residential developer, so we expect that’s what they have in mind down the line,” Williams said.
The “Fry’s site,” which also includes a scattering of smaller hightech companies, has emerged in recent years as one of Palo Alto’s major land-use wildcards, with city officials and consultants considering alternative uses for the prominent location near the center of the city. With Palo Alto facing a regional mandate to plan for thousands of units of new housing, the site is one of several that city officials say could support new housing because of its proximity to the transit-oriented district on California Avenue. The site is currently zoned for residential use, though it also accommodates commercial use. The intent of the new concept plan, according to a December report by Senior Planner Elena Lee, is to “evaluate development intensities, potential for more housing, retention and enhancement of retail/service opportunities, and improved pedestrian and bicycle connections.” “Specific focus was given to preferred uses of the Fry’s Electronics site and the character of the California Avenue business district,” Lee wrote. Palo Alto officials have also re-
peatedly stressed the importance of maintaining Fry’s Electronics, either at its present site or elsewhere in the city. The site’s previous owner, the Robert Wheatley Group, had also proposed greater intensification of development at the site, specifically for multi-family housing. In October, Robert Wheatley sent a letter to the city proposing a new land-use map for the site that would allow multi-family zoning allowing up to 50 units per acre with “four stories of apartment over podium as a potential prototype.” Wheatley’s proposed zoning would also allow up to three stories of office use. According to the report from Lee, Wheatley also expressed concern about the site’s viability for commercial use “given its lack of visibility along El Camino Real and the future use of the site should Fry’s Electronics leave after their lease expires in 2014.” The Sobrato company could not be immediately reached for comment. N Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner can be emailed at gsheyner@ paweekly.com.
Lucie Stern
was built for the Palo Alto Players, who have performed there for 80 years. West Bay Opera has been there for more than 50 years and TheatreWorks for 40. “What we’re finding now is that there is a shift from the normal routine that we’ve had for many decades,” West Bay Opera general director Jose Luis Moscovich said. Moscovich emphasized that his company has not had its hours cut back and said he has a “very good working relationship” with Luckey. But he said he’s feeling more pressure to justify and plan his company’s every hour in the theater, something that’s difficult to do in an organization powered by many volunteers. “The pressure to make money is generating pressure on small companies to be much more organized and much more efficient. It can be done up to a point,” he said. “It may be that even though it’s a small issue right now, it does give us an opening to start thinking about what the goals should be in terms of supporting these long-standing companies that are operating without subsidy except for use of the theater.” Luckey is also trying to increase revenue by attracting more one-time rental events, such as lectures. But there’s not much wiggle room; he estimates the theater is filled some 42 weeks a year by its three resident companies. City space overall is at a premium, with the Palo Alto Art Center and the Mitchell Park Library currently closed for renovations. Performances and classes have been relocated throughout the city as a result, including to the Lucie Stern complex. The Fortnightly Music Club, for in-
stance, moved its concerts from the art center to the Stern ballroom. “I feel for Judge,” Moscovich said. “He’s been put in a position to have to generate revenue from what’s essentially a cultural facility.” For their part, Palo Alto Players officials issued a statement saying: “Palo Alto Players are happy to be celebrating our 80th season of performances in cooperation with the City of Palo Alto. ... Our patron Lucie Stern provided the theater for Palo Alto Players, and we look forward to being there for many years to come.” Players officials declined additional comment. At TheatreWorks, Managing Director Phil Santora told the Weekly: “As far as us being in the theater, we have no indication that there’s going to be any problems with scheduling or doing what we need to do.” TheatreWorks, which also puts on shows at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, has often looked at other venues for performance, rehearsal and shop space, Santora said. At the moment, there’s nothing concrete, he added. “If something evolves, that would be great, but we love being in Palo Alto.” Moscovich, too, said he’s “always looking at other venues” but that he doesn’t have any plans at this point. His desire for another venue wasn’t sparked by debate over city policy, he said, but by a more prosaic concern: The Lucie Stern’s orchestra pit is too small for all his musicians. N Arts & Entertainment Editor Rebecca Wallace can be emailed at rwallace@paweekly.com. Staff Writer Sue Dremann contributed to this story.
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make some use of the set shop at the main theater, and sometimes uses its rehearsal hall as a classroom, Luckey said. Classes have been an increased focus of the Children’s Theatre since Luckey came on board in 2009. The theater has been bringing in teaching artists and has turned a library room into a classroom, he said. In fiscal year 2010, the theater’s income from class registrations was 42 percent of its $240,837.25 revenue — compared to 38 percent for ticket sales from its core productions. Luckey does have a city mandate to increase revenue at the main theater, he said. At the moment, “It does not generate enough to cover the cost of keeping the doors open.” According to city budget figures, direct operating costs for running the theater (such as cleaning and supplies) totaled $122,303.09 in fiscal year 2009-10. User-group revenue from Palo Alto Players, West Bay Opera and TheatreWorks came to $58,671. The three groups pay no theater rent, and the city covers maintenance and utility costs for the building. Instead, the groups pay the city a surcharge on each ticket sold. The $1 surcharge goes up to $2 this year. “We are looking at organizing, making it more efficient. That is the only goal we have,” Luckey said. Some of the organizing changes mark a significant adjustment for the groups that have been at the theater for decades. The Lucie Stern
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alo Alto’s annual May Fête Children’s Parade returns for the 89th year this Saturday (May 7) at 10 a.m., starting at the corner of Emerson Street and University Avenue. The parade, featuring group floats, marching bands and costumed kids, will travel down University, turn right onto Webster Street and end at Addison Elementary School. The theme for this year’s parade is “Books are Hidden Treasures — Dig In!” and was chosen to reflect the Developmental Assets program recently adopted by the city to support healthy youth development. The grand marshals of this year’s parade will be a group of 15 elementary students — named the “Palo Alto Reading Stars” — selected by elementary school and Children’s Library staff for either
their enthusiasm for reading or for their progress in reading skills. Children interested in participating in the parade may check in by 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and are encouraged to wear theme-appropriate costumes, such as dressing as a favorite book character. Before and during the parade, a reading and literacy fair will be held at Lytton Plaza. Donations of used children’s books, to be given to library projects in Ghana and Malawi, may be dropped off at Lytton Plaza between 9 and 11 a.m. on Saturday (May 7), or at Lucie Stern Community Center by Friday (May 6). After the parade, Partners in Education will hold a fair at Addison Elementary, including music by school bands, food and games, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. N — Karla Kane
We’re looking for online community journalists! Palo Alto Online is looking for residents interested in joining our team in covering community issues and events on video and through blogging.
Citizen Video Journalist Academy starts June 7th We’ve partnered with the Media Center and are offering a six-week Citizen Journalist Academy to teach video production and reporting skills, after which you should be ready to produce videos for community access television and Palo Alto Online. Hands-on classes begin Tuesday evening, June 7 and continue with Tuesday evening sessions (7-10 p.m.) on June 14, 21 and 28 and Saturday morning sessions (9 a.m. -1 p.m.) on June 18 and 25. Open to anyone over age 16, you will learn to use video cameras, audio equipment and how to edit video on the computer. You’ll also learn how to plan and produce video segments. Participant fee is $215. Once you complete the program, you’ll become a Community Correspondent, be eligible to use Media Center video equipment and produce and submit videos to Palo Alto Online. You’ll join Palo Alto Online’s team of online video correspondents that cover community events, conduct interviews and produce short video features about things going on in the Palo Alto community.
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