Council reviews Lot T affordable‑housing designs; members favor larger six‑story option

Palo Alto City Council on Oct. 22 reviewed three design variations for a city‑led affordable housing project on Lot T in downtown Palo Alto and several members signaled a preference for a six‑story option that increases unit count and family‑sized units.

Jonathan Lake, director of planning and development services, introduced the project update and said the Lot T site could yield about 54 to 72 affordable units depending on building height and configuration. Julia Knight, planning manager, told council the three options retained similar parking and family‑unit ratios but varied by height and courtyard orientation: the previously supported five‑story option (option 1), a six‑story option that added units (option 2), and a six‑story option with an outward‑facing podium courtyard that reduced the net unit count by four (option 3).

Knight said staff and Alta Housing are assuming a city contribution of…