The Centennial Plaza Mixed Use Project includes two buildings separated by the existing City plaza and containing approximately 17,356 SF of commercial tenant space on the first and second floors, and nine (9) dwelling units on the second and third floors. The buildings utilize a modern industrial design that complements City Hall by incorporating distinctive architectural features of the Italian renaissance architectural style including the use of brick as the primary cladding material and a tile roof. These elements are blended with contemporary features such as expansive storefront glazing, metal awnings, and bronze exterior accent cladding. Three sky bridges are proposed connecting the two buildings at their respective second and third stories. The project’s site design focuses on the creation of viable commercial spaces and the activation three different building frontages: East Mall, Centennial Plaza, and the Atascadero Creek walk. This is achieved through the strategic layout of retail and restaurant tenant spaces with well-articulated facades allowing pedestrian access and engagement from all three frontages. The proposed site design will result in a critical sense of cohesion for the City’s downtown district by creating a more defined connection from City Hall and Sunken Gardens to the Atascadero Creek walk and Colony Square to the east. The project is located at 5901 East Mall Avenue (APNs 029-347-020, 029-347-030, & 029-347-033).
The Project was approved by the Design Review Committee on December 12, 2024.
BACKGROUND
The City currently owns two vacant lots that surround Centennial Plaza on East Mall. The lots were purchased several years back for the purposes of economic development. In 2021, the City Council held study sessions to determine the best use for the property and ultimately decided to sell the sites for private development following completion of the surplus land act process. A Planned Development overlay zone (PD37) was established to guide future development of the parcels and Council directed staff to issue an RFP to invite private design proposals for a mixed-use development. The current proposal was selected as the preferred team to move forward with design and purchase of the parcels for development. One additional 25-foot-wide lot directly adjacent to Dr. Pambrum’s orthodontist office is privately owned but under contract for inclusion in the concept design proposal. DRC review is one of several steps in the approval and purchase process for the applicant team.
