500 Miller Avenue

Project Update

February 2022

The project located at 500 Miller includes nine attached single-family residential units and a two-story 4,948 square foot commercial building.  The project team has completed a re-bid of the underground utilities to move forward with Phase 1 construction.  

With new contractor Unger Construction at the helm, Planning and Building Department staff expect construction to start the beginning of March, with construction crews completing the grading work and installing underground utilities. In mid-April, crews will conduct concrete work, installing “slab-on-grade” at both the commercial and residential building. “Slab-on-grade” is a type of shallow foundation in which a concrete slab rests directly on the ground below it.

In mid-May, construction crews will continue concrete work to the 2nd level podium deck construction, while beginning the framing for the commercial building. Work crews will begin framing the residential building in August with completion of the exterior finishes for the commercial building in November. 

Additionally, there is work planned in the sidewalk adjacent to the site and that schedule is dependent on some coordination with PG&E due to the PG&E vaults needed under the adjacent sidewalk.

Ultimately, the current planned completion date for the commercial building is February of 2023 and for the residential building is May 2023.

June 2018

In January 2011, the City approved a nine-unit, attached single-family residential condominium project and a separate two-story, 4,948 square foot commercial building on the site at 500 Miller Avenue. After several state-extensions of the approval for this type of project during the economic recession, and a sale of the property in early 2017, the project began construction of site improvements in the summer of 2017. Under state law, the City was required to issue the permit for this first phase of site improvements. These site improvements include site excavation, site retaining walls, and drainage improvements.

In October 2018, the Planning Commission held a study session to consider two alternatives to the approved project initiated by the new developer, including a 19 unit option and a 28 unit option. Following the Planning Commission study session, the developer decided to not pursue alternative options and proceed with the 9 unit entitled project.

The original project approvals are still valid, and the project has been vested through the previous owner's submittal of building permits to construct the retaining wall behind the residential and commercial portions of the project. The retaining wall is now complete and will be used as part of the mixed-use project.

Preliminary plans for the project have been reviewed and determined to be in substantial conformance with the plans for the entitled project. The developer has filed a building permit application for Phase I improvements, including underground utilities, foundations for both buildings, and concrete work inclusive of walls and columns. The developer expects to file a permit application for a complete set of construction drawings for the project by July 1. Construction of the site work portion of the project (which includes building foundations) is anticipated to be completed in the fall of this year (late October /November).

Simons Way Subdivision 

(Formerly Known as Coopersmith)

This project is a 16-unit subdivision that includes a mix of unit sizes and types, including 6 single-family detached residences, 3 single-family residences with accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and 2 duplex buildings (4 units). The project includes a new roadway (Simon's Way) which will be privately maintained by the HOA.

The City issued the building and grading permits for the site improvements in March 2017; construction of utility connections to Miller Avenue and to each lot, site retaining walls, drainage improvements, and the roadway is now complete.

Building permit applications for all 16 units have been submitted for City review. Construction of the homes is expected to begin this year with completion by mid-2021.

The current owners have been marketing the project for sale are now in contract with a buyer. The transaction is tentatively scheduled to close this summer.

Background / Prior Approval

In January 2011, the City approved a proposed nine-unit, attached single-family residential condominium project and a separate two-story, 4,948 square foot commercial building on the site at 500 Miller Avenue. After several state-extensions of the approval for this type of project during the economic recession, and a sale of the property in early 2017, the project finally began construction of site improvements in the summer of 2017. Under state law, the City was required to issue the permit for this first phase of site improvements. These site improvements include site excavation, site retaining walls, and drainage improvements.