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Developer unveils 82‑unit Forest Commons for 332 Forest Ave.; neighbors split over scale
Summary
A proposed 82‑unit, eight‑story apartment building paired with the historic Casa Real drew both support and objections at an Aug. 11 prescreening. Supporters said the parcel is a rare opportunity for transit‑oriented housing downtown; opponents worried about an eight‑story wall, daylight impacts and parking access for adjacent low‑rise buildings.
A conceptual plan to build an 82‑unit rental building called Forest Commons at 332 Forest Avenue drew mixed reactions at a second study session on Aug. 11, where the developer and architect emphasized transit‑oriented infill and shared open space while immediate neighbors warned about scale, daylighting and traffic impacts.
The applicant described the site as unusually large for Downtown Palo Alto and proposed an eight‑story building with below‑grade and at‑grade parking. The project team said the proposal would pair a new building with the adjacent historic Casa Real under common ownership and would create a large shared open space between the two properties. The developer said the project would provide 16 deed‑restricted affordable units in perpetuity and full, “real” parking for each unit (not mechanical lifts), as well as long‑ and short‑term bicycle parking and a bike maintenance area.
Architect Rob Steinberg said the new building is designed as a…
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