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San Mateo commission approves mural for First and B development near Caltrain
Summary
The Civic Arts Commission approved a roughly $135,000 mural for the First & B commercial development, locating the artwork on the east elevation facing the Caltrain station; staff and the developer said lighting and placement were designed to reduce vandalism and preserve tenant light access.
The Civic Arts Commission voted to approve a public-art mural for the First & B commercial development, a four-story, mass-timber building planned on the corner of 1st Avenue and South B Street near the Caltrain station.
Steve Golden, the city’s principal planner, introduced the application and said the project already received entitlement approval from the planning commission. Claire, a representative of Harvest Properties, described the building as about 41,000 square feet with roughly 36,000 square feet of commercial office and 5,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and said the development’s art valuation is “approximately $135,000,” about 0.5% of the building valuation.
Artist Nicole Mueller, who presented mock-ups and the design concept, said the mural’s composition draws on Northern California landscapes and tidal-marsh imagery to create layered, nature-inspired forms. “The idea of representing the vibrancy of the surrounding environment … the movements of water, the sway, the ebb and flow,” she said, explaining the palette and process.
Commissioners asked about nighttime visibility and safety. Claire and staff said the project will include building-mounted lighting to illuminate the back alley and that the mural location—above ground-floor operations and on a wall enclosing a stairwell—was chosen to limit vandalism and avoid reducing natural light for tenants. Staff also advised the commission that lighting and glare would be studied during final permitting.
A motion to approve the design was made by Commissioner Sima and seconded by Commissioner Robert; the motion passed on a unanimous voice vote. Staff said they will coordinate next steps with the applicant, including a maintenance agreement.
The commission closed public comment with no members of the public registered online or in person. The approval moves the mural into the permitting and installation phase; staff and the applicant said installation will follow building facade completion.
