Council approves amended development agreement for 169-unit mixed-use project at 114 E. Garvey

The City Council voted to approve an amended development agreement and a tentative map for a mixed-use redevelopment at 114 E. Garvey Ave. Senior planner Eliana Munoz summarized the project: the site is about two acres, the proposal reduced commercial to approximately 16,300 square feet and increased residential to 169 market-rate rental units, arranged across seven stories (about 74 feet). The project proposes 343 parking spaces, down from the municipal code requirement, based on a shared-parking analysis and an unbundled parking strategy where parking is leased separately from residential units.

Developer counsel Richard McDonald and architect Chris Biestad presented design changes: they moved parking above grade (instead of subterranean) to shorten construction impacts and added amenities and active plaza space at Garvey and Garfield. McDonald told council the changes respond to post-COVID market realities and construction-cost pressures and said the project will contribute public benefits including $200,000 to the city's affordable housing trust fund and $200,000 to the park master plan fund. The council asked about retail uses, construction timing and parking mitigation; applicants said leases would target destination and neighborhood-serving retail and that construction could begin as soon as financing and approvals are secured, with a target completion in 2028. After public comment and discussion, the council approved the amended development agreement and tentative map unanimously.