The most recent Mission Point community event, held on February 29 at Mission College, drew a packed crowd of neighboring residents, businesses and organizations, along with community leaders and local electeds, all eager to hear the latest project updates and celebrate its milestones.
These gatherings are an integral component of Kylli’s ongoing efforts to engage with its constituents and keep them abreast of developments. The event included a presentation detailing progress, followed by ample opportunities to ask questions and offer feedback, both in the larger group format and then one-on-one at stations with project specialists, including landscape architects, traffic experts, project engineers, parking experts and more .
The meeting kicked off with a warm welcome and the recognition of two special guests, City of Santa Clara Councilmembers Kathy Watanabe and Kevin Park, who complimented Kylli’s commitment to maintaining an open dialogue. They applauded the team’s dedication to providing extensive opportunities for community input and listening, which is a proven formula for projects that best suit the City’s needs. They also admired the overall design, remarking on the prevalent open space, walkability and retail offerings, as well as the connectivity to Mission College and a variety of nearby businesses, entertainment and other amenities.
The project overview highlighted the proposed rezoning of the site from its singular focus on high-intensity office and R&D to a vibrant, mixed-used urban environment driven by leg power. Given its proximity to transit, Levi’s Stadium and other popular destinations, this re-imagining will help fill the gap in this fast-growing area of Santa Clara by offering services such as a child-care facility and community space, augmented by open spaces that offer room for socializing, sports activities, live music and more. As a leg-powered environment, it will be designed with sustainability in mind. The proposal includes market rate and below market rate homes in an effort to help address the dire housing crisis.
“This has been an exciting evolution since we first began in 2017 to this exciting rezoning plan we are preparing to present to the Santa Clara County Planning Commission,” said Jennifer Johnson, consultant for Mission Point. “Through the ongoing community meetings we’ve held over the process, we’ve been able to better understand local priorities, which has allowed us to adapt and incorporate many of the community’s ideas into the project, and for that, we thank you.”
The architect for the project, Mark Fairman, senior associate with Gensler, shared additional details about the unique design of the project that reflect five key pillars. “I’m deeply passionate about this project because it represents the essence of place-making, allowing us to create a thriving neighborhood from scratch,” he said.
That includes selecting the right mix of neighborhood-serving amenities, such as small, local shops, a grocery store, financial services, child-care center, entertainment, restaurants and family activities to make it appealing to all residents. The Kylli team and architects have also been seeking input from Santa Clara residents to determine the ideal blend of open space, paired with recreational offerings and activities.
With an eye toward the future, the office space is designed to meet current expectations, while being flexible enough to allow options as needs change, with an emphasis on quality and features that will appeal to today’s workforce, including access to the outdoors.
Mark also discussed the project’s water preservation and management features, which include resiliency factors designed for climate change, such as addressing the rising sea levels. “When considering the larger impacts of sustainability, it’s crucial to consider how we can future proof our design,” he said.
The Kylli team is grateful to all those who joined us at this recent gathering, as well as past attendees whose contributions have helped shape the project, and looks forward to continued communication and collaboration.