A north Sunnyvale shopping center is slated to be transformed into a bustling townhome neighborhood as part of city-supported plans to turn old spaces into residential and commercial areas — a development that is drawing mixed reaction from residents.
Some complain the new homes will wipeout the handful of accessible food and grocery centers in their already underserve neighborhood.
The city’s Planning Commission heard a proposal Tuesday from real estate company True Life Companies to build 101 townhome units and a commercial building with at least 10,000 square feet of floor area at the Lakewood Shopping Center. The 5.28 acre lot, which includes a nearby former auto service center, is located on 1119 Lawrence Expressway near Highway 101. The surrounding neighborhood consists of single-family homes.
The shopping center currently houses several small businesses, including Giovanni’s New York Pizzeria, Saigon Seafood Harbor and New Wing Yuan Market, an Asian grocery store. So far, there aren’t any plans to include the businesses, or other new grocery and food stores, in the commercial building’s lineup.
The development is allowed under “village mixed use,” a zoning category used for the city’s proposed Village Center Master Plan. The plan dates back to 2017 when the city identified several “underutilized shopping centers” in the city– including Lakewood — that could be redeveloped into mixed-use commercial and residential units with a pedestrian-friendly focus.
The city has already approved center projects located at 166 and 102 E Fremont Avenue for 85 townhouse units and 11,500 square feet of commercial space as well as a site at 877 W. Fremont Avenue for 114 residential units and 35,393 square feet of medical office.
There are several development requirements for Village Centers, including having commercial or a retail floor area equal to 10 to 25 percent of the lot area, buildings with a maximum height of three to four stories and networks that are easily accessible by pedestrian and cyclists.
Another Village Center proposal is underway to turn 911 E. Duane Avenue into 62 townhouses — a project that’s also raising concern from residents about the potential loss of shopping space in their area.
During Tuesday’s meeting on the Lakewood center, some locals said the proposal is too housing-focused and diverges from the village center’s original intention of using the space to serve the overall community.
Resident Larry Chan said the removal of the Lakewood Shopping center will result in a food dessert, or a geographical area, limiting residents’ access to affordable and nutritious food. The stores will no longer be walkable for residents, with the nearest ones being several miles away by car, Chan said.
“Residents across Lakewood would be pushed into that low access situation,” Chan said. “Please protect us from this.”
Sunnyvale resident Cortney Jansen, who is a former member of the Lakewood Village Association, said many people in her neighborhood are against the development. They also worry about pedestrian safety surrounding such a residential and commercial space, and what shopping options will be available to them.
“While it may be legal, it’s not a friendly thing that you (developers) are doing,” Jansen said. “It’s not a neighborly thing that you are doing. Our community relies on the retail that we have. The development you propose is only going to make it worse.”
However, others are open to the project’s prospects.
Daniel Alvarez, a representative for the Nor Cal Carpenters Union, said if the project is ultimately approved by the city the developers can hire local workers that will help the city’s economy.
“They are not just creating housing. They are creating long term careers and opportunities for the right people and also for the economy here in Sunnyvale.”
A Sunnyvale resident, who identified herself only as Fawaz, said he is “happy” to see new neighbors come in.
“I’m curious to see what new retail looks like,” he said. “I think it’s a good development for our community.”
