Retiring Retiring Well

Vol. XXXVIII, Number 27 Q April 7, 2017 Downtown: G’bye ‘lime’ zone, hello parking meters? www.PaloAltoOnline.com Page 5 Retiring Class helps people well find purpose Page 22 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Spectrum 20 Worth a Look 41 Eating Out 42 Movies 43 Q Arts New music: AI writes the songs Page 38 Q Home Tips for buyers who want to head for the hills Page 46 Q Sports A big weekend for Stanford Athletics Page 63 COMMUNITY TALK Atrial Fibrillation Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm JOIN US FOR A FREE problem, affecting over 2 million Americans. Without COMMUNITY EVENT detection and treatment, atrial fibrillation can affect Saturday, April 15 quality of life and cause stroke and heart failure. 9:30am – 11:00am Crowne Plaza San Jose – Stanford Medicine specialists will discuss the signs Silicon Valley and symptoms of atrial fibrillation and the options for (Champagne Ballroom) evaluation and treatment, which may improve quality of 777 Bellew Drive life and decrease complications. 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Page 2 • April 7, 2017 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com Coldwell Banker You’re Invited Previews International Open House Sat. | Sun. 1:30 to 4:30 pm List Price $ 5,880,000 5 Beds | 4 Baths Home ~ 4,075 SF Lot ~ 44,030 SF Video Tour www.schoelerman.com The Fine Art of Luxury Real Estate 40 Selby Lane, Atherton www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • April 7, 2017 • Page 3 A NNOUNCING THE 31ST ANNUAL PALO ALTO WEEKLY Short Story Contest FOR OFFICIAL RULES AND ENTRY FORM, VISIT: www.paloaltoonline.com/short_story Prizes for First, Second and Third place winners in each category: Adult, Young Adult (15-17) ALL stories and Teen (12-14) must be 2,500 words or less ENTRY DEADLINE: at 5pm April 13, 2017 Sponsored by: Page 4 • April 7, 2017 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com UpfrontLocal news, information and analysis Study urges paid parking in downtown Palo Alto City to consider parking meters, pay stations as ways with license plate readers; pric- city’s existing parking system — by council discussion of a new down- ing incentives would replace time which downtown is divided into four town garage, Keene alluded to the to improve efficiency, raise revenue restrictions at downtown garages; color zones, with three-hour park- impending downtown parking by Gennady Sheyner and no one would talk about the ing limits in each zone — would be study and said he is “absolutely cer- “lime” and “coral” zones anymore. abolished. Instead, the area would tain the recommendation we’ll be ometime in the not-too- be installed next to every park- That’s the vision being of- be split into tiers, with parking in the making is a shift to paid parking.” distant future, a visitor to ing spot. In the more peripheral fered by the city’s newly released more central area costing more than The new report from the Depart- Sdowntown Palo Alto could be areas, along Lytton and Forest av- Downtown Parking Management along the more distant blocks. ment of Planning and Community asked to pay for a scarce and cov- enues, pay stations at both ends of Study, a long-awaited document The recommendation to adopt Environment, which commis- eted resource that for decades has each block would receive visitors’ that could spell a dramatic shift paid parking is hardly surprising. In sioned consultant Dixon Resourc- been offered for free: a parking spot. parking fees. in downtown’s parking policies. recent years, City Manager James es Unlimited to conduct the study, In the heart of downtown, Parkers would pay with credit The City Council will review the Keene and planning staff have often reaffirms this position. Given the around University and Hamilton cards or via their phones; parking document on Tuesday. talked about the need to charge for avenues, parking meters would enforcers would cruise around If the new vision is adopted, the parking. Last December, during a (continued on page 14) TRANSPORTATION City to ‘dig deep’ on new California Avenue garage City Council agrees to maximize parking and include two basement levels, despite higher costs by Gennady Sheyner purred by impassioned The Cobblery, The Counter, Molly pleas from California Av- Stone’s, Izzy’s Bagels, Sundance S enue merchants, the Palo the Steakhouse and Zombie Run- Alto City Council agreed Monday ner — co-signed a letter to the night to dramatically increase the council this week, urging the number of spaces in a new garage council to include as many spaces planned for the business district. in the new facility as it can. Despite numerous disagree- Without sufficient parking, the let- Veronica Weber ments about the optimal design ter states, customers will stop com- for the facility, the council co- ing and employees will be forced to alesced around a four-story ga- park in residential neighborhoods. rage with an additional two un- The long-term stability of California derground levels and no space for Avenue, they wrote, requires a park- Costumed commentary retail. The garage, planned for a ing structure with two levels of un- Visitors to the Anderson Collection modern art museum at Stanford University take in the intricate city-owned parking lot at Sher- derground parking and at least three details of buttons, beads and fabric that make up one of the eight sculptural “Soundsuits,” created man Avenue and Birch Street, or four levels above ground. by artist Nick Cave, which offer commentary on current events. They are on display through Aug. 14. would have a total of 636 parking “Certainly, the cost of the new spaces. The net addition would be structure is significant, but this 315 spaces — roughly double the is a one-time opportunity to help number that was envisioned for alleviate the parking demand and DEVEOPMENT the garage two years ago. make a forward-thinking capital The council chose this alter- investment in the future and contin- native from a menu of seven ued success of our community and Judge rules against developer options, two of which included business district,” the letter states. retail, in keeping with direction Mike Meffert, a real estate agent that the council provided in De- who owns a building on Califor- in Edgewood case cember 2015. The other five were nia Avenue, made his case to the all devoted exclusively to parking, council in person. He has seen ten- Sand Hill Property owes City of Palo Alto nearly a quarter-million dollars though they varied by size and the ants over the years depart because by Sue Dremann number of underground levels. of insufficient parking, he said. If things go as planned, construc- “It’s the capacity of parking spac- dgewood Plaza Shopping (PC) ordinance governing the for providing the building for a tion would commence next year and es that we’re looking for — not retail Center owner Sand Hill property. Under the ordinance, grocery store. be completed by summer 2019. The and not nice arcades,” Meffert said. E Property Company must Sand Hill is required to provide City of Palo Alto’s lead attor- city would then shift its attention to The issue is becoming urgent pay $248,250 in back penalties a grocery store on the property ney, Terence Howzell, had ar- building a new public-safety build- with the impending rollout of the for leaving the shopping center as a public benefit. Sand Hill has gued that the ordinance, which ing on another city-owned lot, across Residential Preferential Parking without a functioning grocery already paid the city $630,500 in was revised in November 2013 the street from the new garage. program in Evergreen Park and store, Administrative Judge penalties. after Sand Hill erroneously de- By agreeing to scrap retail space Mayfield, the neighborhoods Lance Bayer ruled on April 2. Sand Hill’s attorney, David molished one of the historic Jo- from the garage plan, the council surrounding California Avenue. The decision comes after two Lanferman, had argued the PC or- seph Eichler buildings, requires went along with the overwhelm- Once the program goes into effect days of testimony and argu- dinance does not spell out a guar- “the commercial property owner ing sentiment from California Av- later this month, employees with- ments, which took place Feb. 13 antee for an operating grocery shall ensure the continued use of enue’s business community, where out parking permits will no lon- and March 6, after Edgewood store and that enforcing a guaran- the 20,600-square-foot building the idea of going not just “big” ger be able to park on residential developer John Tze sought re- tee is “an illusory condition.” But as a grocery store for the life of but “as big as possible” has been streets for longer than two hours. lief from fines of up to $5,000 in a 12-page decision, Bayer found the project.” Bayer agreed that gaining traction in recent weeks. Jennifer Allen, co-owner of PIP per day for allegedly violating “without merit” Sand Hill’s argu- Owners of 20 businesses — in- the city’s Planned Community ments that it is responsible only (continued on page 12) cluding La Bodeguita del Medio, (continued on page 9) www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • April 7, 2017 • Page 5 Healthy Teeth and Gums Upfront That Last a Lifetime! 450 Cambridge Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306 QUOTE OF THE WEEK • New Patients Welcome! (650) 326-8210 • Free Consultations and PUBLISHER Second Opinions William S.

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