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Same Old Safeway Story

The Daily News has another front page story today titled "Two Safeways, one remodel" by Liz Harrelson. The story contrasts the Burlingame experience with that of Menlo Park where a similarly outdated Safeway is scheduled for remodelling. The classic Safeway quote from Safeway PR person Jennifer Webber is "In Menlo Park the neighbors were willing to listen to our parameters about the site, and in turn we listened to them as well."

Of course, the story doesn't identify even one change made by Safeway in Menlo Park. They are going to get a 65,748-square-foot "hacienda-style" store with an attached 11,500 sq ft retail space. Sounds just like the "fried egg" design (a building in the middle of an ocean of parking) that was canned here in Burlingame. Let's hope Menlo Park doesn't suffer the same fate as Redwood City, but it seems inevitable.

So here's the open forum question for Safeway: What did Safeway change over the last eight years that this has been going on? Answer: there have only been about two years in total when anything was happening at all and the only change is to paste on a couple of small retail spaces on one side of a design that has the exact same size, orientation and access/egress problems it always has had. Ms. Webber should feel free to blog on (or perhaps she already has on some other postings).

Too bad reporter Harrelson didn't mention the real difference between Menlo Park and Burlingame: that in Burlingame there is a public land swap required to create the final parcel.

Safeway reiterated its "we're waiting to see what the community wants" nonsense at the end of the article. No developer anywhere gets this sort of pre-approval, but increasingly it would appear that Safeway is going to sit it out until the next election. Afterall, in Burlingame that's when we find out what the community really wants.

– Written by anson

Posted in

48 responses to “Same Old Safeway Story”

  1. Rosaline

    Read the Examiner article:

    “Safeway has already bowed to considerable neighborhood pressure on the Menlo Park project. The company has agreed to build sound walls protecting those living on nearby residential streets from the noise the store will generate. Safeway also developed a new triangular layout for the store specifically for this site”

    Safeway said they listened – and they did and whats more they made changes in Menlo Park. The existing Menlo Park Safeway is 83,300 sq.ft and they are making their store – wait for it – smaller! Like Burlingame one of the issues is parking stalls.

    Sometimes Ms. Harrelson should dig a little deeper with the important facts because the public land issue is important to the Burlingame project.

    Safeway thought they had three sure votes on council, Janney lost and the whole ball game changed. Safeway should have listened and worked with the community long ago but they thought they had those votes. They were wrong!

  2. al

    Let’s see, two articles at about the same time with similar themes….do you smell a new PR push?

  3. Jenn

    If I go back in time, I remember various buzz words that flew around this project, and would be repeated endlessly. Do you remember this little ditty?: “Enhance the Shopping Experience….” Translation: We’ll offer you everything under one roof, from greeting cards and pharmacuticals, from patio furniture to stuffed animals, and position our store in such a way that that it is inconvenient for you to venture out into the rest of the downtown where you may (god forbid) otherwise choose to spend your money……

  4. Tee

    FORGET SAFEWAY-LET IT GO-WE DON’T NEED SAVEWAY.
    There are plenty of corparations out there who would be willing to work with the City of Burlingame. For exaple look at the great job that was done at Whole Foods, in San Mateo.(Hillsdale Ave.) A great job was done with the store, living space, restaraunts, and a new City of San Mateo Libary.
    Please everyone, don’t be polarized by this issue. Tell Safeway good=bye.
    Safeway is aware who will fiil the space they leave behind if they leave… Why do you think they are stiil here?

  5. Rich Grogan

    In the past, we have seen and heard all of Safeway’s propaganda. One of the major philosophies propagated by Safeway was “we are willing to listen and work with the neighborhood” which is the farthest thing from the reality. Time and time again, Safeway has demonstrated that they have their own agenda and are not interested in the neighborhood’s input.

    When it comes to the Burlingame Safeway project, how do you know when a Safeway representative isn’t telling the truth? Answer: his or her lips are moving…

  6. fred

    Safeway propoganda? You mean like helping out with the crossing guards? Again the attitude comes out ‘forget them – let them move out’. Is that working with them? All the nearby cities are in the midst of developments and what has been going on in Burlingame?

    And what is wrong with having a decent sized grocery store? Why can’t you have multiple choices when looking to purchase? Not only is the sentiment to control the property but also the need to control what they sell inside as well.

  7. Rosaline

    Fred, it has been eight years. There has been mediation, community input, petitions, planning commission input and council input. Perhaps that is not enough “working together” for you, but what they vomit up in our town is important to us. What they sell in their store, is up to them.

  8. Bruce

    Let’s move on…

    I think our Council should take the lead on not just the safeway, but also include other area as well. What’re their “vision” of this town?

  9. Kato

    Bruce,
    The council represents “us”, so why shouldn’t “we” create the vision–or at least have some input?

  10. Jenn

    Totally agree, Kato. CBB was often given bad press being involved. In truth, it is the whole town’s job, indeed, their obligation, to take part in a vision process and it is the council’s obligation to encourage it.

  11. Bruce

    You’ll get your chance during public hearing to voice your input, but city council have the “resource” to get things moving…didn’t they just spent $30k few weeks ago on study of safeway/downtown specific plan?

  12. Jenn

    The 30K earmarked is for an economic feasibility plan. It is just a part of an eventual downtown specific area plan; at least that was my take on it.

  13. Rich Grogan

    Fred

    It was nice of Safeway to offer up the 32K for the Safeway project. It was just as nice for CBB to orchestrate a program to raise the other 32K to close out the year. Where is your praise for CBB raising their half of the 64K CROSSING GUARD MONEY? Remember, you can thank “da mayor” for not funding the Crossing Guard Funds needed to cover this past school year Crossing Guard Funds.

    You are years too late to be bringing up this lame Safeway argument! These issues have been addressed numerous times. The Safeway propaganda has been dissembled piece by piece, which clearly showed Safeway has not be honest with the residents of Burlingame. Do your homework and read all of the past newspaper articles regarding this subject. If you do not have the past article, I do, and I am willing to share them with you, just give me a shout.

    As for your delusional opinion regarding the issue of property rights, property owners do not have “carte blanc” as to what a person can do with his or her property. If you doubt this statement, just read the various city regulations regarding building permits. Had you attended the last council meeting you would have seen two very clear cases of property disputes.

  14. Anonymous

    Even the developers in town like Bruce and our friend Otto don’t have carte blanche in this town – or Hillsborough. Property rights go so far and then we have to obey the rules.

    Oh hum – that is life!

  15. Bruce

    Whatever Fiona…kept support your “connected” council, who got no vision of our town with “not in my backyard attitude”. WE need ppls at the Council level to LEAD us, and willing to work w/ all kind of businesses to help Burlingame become even better than before! Not just answering some stupid constant complaints via phone/e-mail.

  16. Bruce

    And Rich
    You constantly voice complaints, mistrusts of Safeway, and offer no solutions. Perhaps the only person in your world/society who can be trusted is yourself…so please do everyone a favor, why don’t you represent Safeway!

  17. Jenn

    Bruce, are you a developer? That could explain some amount of paranoia. You and your business associates have quite a good thing going around here. If you’d really think about it, you’d realize that Safeway will provide jobs for developers, contractors and subs, no matter what the project is, so why not try and make it the best solution, all around, for the community, instead of something we will regret as soon as it is built. These complex issues of growing pains are happening all over the Peninsula, and show a heathy amount of citizen pride in their communities. I hope if you are also a resident of this town, that you can also see that side of the issue, not just looking at short-term monetary benefits for very few.

  18. fred

    Rich, years too late to bring up the lame Safeway arguement? This is the crux of the problem. The ideas expressed here about development are usually pipe dreams. No one is going to invest money in this town when they have no control over the end result. Developers, contractors and subs are busy all over the peninsula but not so in Burlingame.

  19. Jenn

    Good Point, and look at what is happening on the Peninsula. Check out the monstrosities on El Camino in Millbrae, for example. Should we emulate that? Maybe that is a good thing that we don’t take any old plan for this town. There’s nothing wrong with standards, high standards. The profits are there to be made, too. They just may not be the quick buck most are looking for.

  20. Rosaline

    Your instinct, Jenn, three blogs up is correct.

    Bruce is correct, leadership is what is lacking. And as far as vision, Mrs. Nagel has been trying to get people to talk about a “vision” for months and months. If she was mayor, these things would be getting done with leadership, fairness and energy. Too bad that our present council cannot even deal with Safeway let alone the bigger picture.

    As far as investing in this town, when Otto decides he does not want to buy a home for $1 million plus, tear it down and build something new, then I will believe that scare tactic!

  21. fred

    Rosaline, real estate development is very different from business development. Real estate is at an all time high. Office is in a big slump and retail seems to be in a slump, maybe. But being too selective and restrictive, especially in this economy, isn’t going to work no matter how much energy a council member has.

  22. Jenn

    Gee, Fred, weren’t you the one who said a few months of blogs ago (and thanks, by the way, for sticking with the Blog through thick and thin!) that there was no problem with all the empty storefronts in Burlingame, or perhaps that was Bruce? I agree with you that there is a slump. It has zero to do with Safeway, though. What about the landlords., could they possibly reduce the rents and finally fill up those stores? It looks deader than dead on Burlingame Ave. I honestly must say that I see zero restriction on new businesses, zero. As a matter of fact, if appears that the restaurant moritorium (sp?, sorry) no longer is as sacred as it once was. About 5 or 6 years ago I remember the poor Cakery ladies appearing monthly before council, begging for a couple of chairs and tables in their bakery, so that clients could sit down and look at photos of cakes. It was absurd that they couldn’t get these. After about a year or two, they finally got a couple of chairs and a table or two. Now it looks like that new restaurant coming in on the corner of California and Burlingame Avenue just needed to apply for a conditional use permit, or change to the permit, in order to get a full scale restaurant in there. I don’t recall that Cheese Please, or Sams, ever had seating in there. So, please, don’t call Burlingame restrictive. It’s anything but. Now I have, however, heard about other issues, like office conversion, ADA issues etc, which are restrictive, but perhaps these are California building code issues.

  23. Jenn

    Oh, and I forgot that lovely Apple building. Any town that would allow that thing to be constructed could never ever be called “restrictive.”!

  24. Mary

    The issue in town is not that we don’t have a vision or that the council doesn’t have a vision. The issue is there are three visions and they are quite different. One of them wants a monster Safeway, a giant parking structure, and the right to tear down anything that isn’t big enough. Another vision says “don’t bother me with anything like limiting restaurants or store size, I just want to rent my property to whoever”. And the third says that, in the future, you should be able to recognize Burlingame for the charm that it has always had and that good business can be done within certain guidelines. Those are your choices. The problem comes in when someone in City hall says one thing and then votes something else.

  25. fred

    Mary, you forget that with choice #3 the business then can elect option #2 which is open up in another lucrative part of the Bay Area (which there are many to choose from).

    Jenn, that Apple building sat vacant for roughly ten years or more. It was a godsend that someone finally wanted to make some use of that space. And they make extremely good use of it at that.

  26. Rosaline

    Safeway is not going anywhere. If it goes bye bye, Whole Foods or someone else will say hello Burlingame!

    Confucious say … Safeway listen, Safeway understand, Safeway does, ergo Safeway and residents happy.

  27. Cinderella Story

    Fred,
    The building where Apple computer is today was vacant for about two years during the planning process. Bay View Bank was a tenant in the building for nearly 20 years.

  28. Jenn

    Hate to repeat myself but Apple would have done equally as well in a building that was either reused, or designed to compliment the surrounding buildings. Go to Palo Alto and check out their Apple. It’s gorgeous. They actually have standards in that city. I’d sure love to see some real windows on Park. How is it possible to ruin a corner so badly? I find that corners are about the most important elements in a streetscape. Somehow that building managed to look horribly contrived as soon as it was constructed. Again, kudos to former planning commissioner Bojue for recognizing a disaster on paper, but the train went down the track anyway.

  29. fred

    Cindy, I thought about that again and it felt like it was empty longer but you are right.

  30. Cinderella Story

    Thanks, Fred. The Prince often says the same thing here around the castle!

  31. Rich Grogan

    Well Bruce, unfortunately you are wrong, AGAIN! I have offered alternative solutions as to how a new store could be reoriented on the property. These proposals were in concert with many talented residents, who were not closed minded and willing to look for alternatives. I am still involved with some very fine, talented, and knowledgeable residents, who are still seeking alternative plans as to what to do with the current Safeway property. Over the years, when I was seeking out and obtaining information on alternatives, where were you?

    As for your idea of me working for Safeway, sounds great! If I had the authority to toot the horn and ring the bell of the train, there would be a new, albeit resituated on the property, Safeway in some phase on construction.

    Now as for not trusting Safeway, I have reason. Safeway has not been honest with the residents of Burlingame. One of the major misrepresentations was, this is the only plan that will work on that property. To be blunt, THAT AIN’T THE TRUTH! Numerous plans have been offered up, Safeway just did not want to budge from their fixed position.

  32. Rich Grogan

    Fred

    Your observation Developers, contractors and subs are busy all over the peninsula but not so in Burlingame?(sic) doesn’t hold water. Just on Vancouver alone there are six (6) constructions projects in one phase or another. Each of these projects had to go though a formal review and approval process before it/they could be started. Even after the approval process, there is an appeal process, where the neighbors can challenge the wisdom or appropriateness of the project. Owning property does not come without restrictions!

    We do not have to go to far to see that certain cities have some very serious construction regulations. Lets look at Hillsborough. How many commercial building sites do you see there? Let me give you a hint ZERO. And why is that, because the city doesn’t want them! Again, lets look at our neighbor, Hillsborough, see if they have issues regarding various construction sites. Across the street from Crocker School there is a HUGH debate over the intended houses to be built there. Property rights, yes, restrictions yes. So attempt to remember owning property comes with certain restrictions and responsibilities. That is why there is the permit process and design review process in Burlingame.

    You are wanton to blame CBB for holding up the Safeway construction, but that really isn’t true nor is it fair. It is Safeway, because they were not willing to be flexible and listen to the citizens of Burlingame!

  33. Jenn

    Hillsborough has areas that are really a mess right now. If you look up into the hills, they have been graded and have huge retaining walls built or being built, that are meant to hold absolutely tremendous villas. These pieces of land were previously left wild, and weren’t considered buildable lots. Now every developer has jumped on them. It is a shame to see that lovely hamlet destroyed. The irony of it is that families have not grown at all. I think the huge houses are really meant for entertaining. Someday I suspect there will be an entire town, full elephant houses that are too large and expensive to maintain. The best, most enforcable restriction they have is the minimum lot size, I believe of a 1/2, that act as a natural buffer between houses. In Burlingame, we need driveways and landscaping to try and accomplish that.

  34. Bruce

    WOW Rich, you are so smart. You are right, I wasn’t there when you complaint, or go in front of Council to BS your points. Guess da Save way better SAVE their rear by obtaining your “Approval” or Kiss your behind before submitting another plan.

    Now, what do you know about that development across da school in Hillsborough? or Vancouver? Do your homework, not every appeal or oppositions are “REASONABLE”. These are bunches neighbors just got NOTHING BETTER TO DO!

    Oh Jenn…what da hell you know about development? sigh… Go to http://www.hillsborough.net READ first before you BS about that town the real estate market is all about demand/supply?, if nobody want to pay 5 mil or more for a new house, then there won’t be builder/developer buying those lot to develop. AND. By the way, these developer DIDN’T steal the LAND, no land are FREE!

  35. Anonymous

    Bruce- you have a vested interest in development in these towns. Some people are not looking at the dollar profit but what these “growths” are doing to Hillsborough and Burlingame.

    And as far as the Hillsborough property, isn’t it ironic that they clearcut those trees and now the neighbors are concerned about looking at in-your-face houses. Perhaps Otto etc. should have left the trees and then the houses would have melded into the trees. Like duh!

  36. Jenn

    You are absolutely right, Bruce, that the developers don’t steal land. Nobody has ever said that. The problems come when there is a lack of direction or vision from a city, and theirs is no better than ours. Bottom line is always money, but that does not mean it is the right direction, does it? All this takes a toll on the quality of life there, though that may not be one of your values, apparently not. The development by the school, which I believe is being done by two or three developers, is on a piece of land that previously had huge eucalyptus and other trees. Same goes for the old Henderson estate, which was subdivided into little parts when I grew up because the city couldn’t figure out what to do with it, and weren’t willing to give up the “no businesses” status, not even for a library, etc. These areas all provided a noise buffer for busy streets. It certainly isn’t that people have nothing better to do than appeal decisions. Do you that is “fun?” Spare me! That is their good right. Who are you as a developer, to say that they should not. if you actually had lived there as long as some of those people have, you’d be upset too. Then again, developers move around so much, they don’t really have roots.

  37. Jenn

    And by the way, I don’t mean to dump on all developers, some are respectful of a city, neighbors, and do good quality work

  38. Anonymous

    Not sure what point “Bruce” was trying to make in directing us to a page touting the restrictions Hillsborough places on development in order to “retain the rural country ambience”. The point I take from it is that we do consider such restrictions reasonable, as opposed to the developer carte-blanche he often seems to favor.

  39. Rich Grogan

    Bruce

    Smart no, learning yes. My life has been governed by dealing with the facts and the honesty of the individual. The latter makes me suspicious of anyone, who is will to attach, besmirch, etc others and then hides behind a fictious name.

    “If you were not present when I spoke before the council, how could you, intellignetly, draw a meaningful conclusion about the content of the presentation?”

    As for the property owners, who are expressing their concern about what might be constructed in their neighborhood, especially when the project is a “spec” house that might adversly effect their property value, etc. They have a right to express their concerns!

  40. Rich Grogan

    Bruce

    Oh, I forgot to mention, I have done my homework. I have spoken with some of the residents on Vancouver regarding the colonials. I know the designer of the colonials on Vancouver is you. I know you are not a licensed architect and what you are attempting to sell are cookie cutter homes that could be obtained from any one of numerous home building books.

    And your behavior is simular to Safeway’s. You have not interest in what the neighbors feel about what you are attempting to be put next to or across from them.

  41. Jenn

    “Designers” seem to be getting more and more common. I wonder when that profession popped up. Did it exist 20 or 30 years ago? What are the qualifications of “designers”? Or can anyone call themselves that? How long and what degree does it take to become a bonofide architect?

  42. Anonymous

    You can read all about what it takes to be licensed as an architect at http://www.cab.ca.gov/. The main requirements are:
    – either a degree in architecture or significant work experience under direct supervision of a licensed architect
    – completion of a supervised, structured internship
    – passing marks on both national and state architectural exams.

    Once licensed, you are subject to a fairly extensive professional code of conduct.

    I don’t believe any of this applies to “designers”. You get what you pay for.

  43. Rich Grogan

    Bruce

    Thank you for directing us to the Hillsborough City Web Page. From this, can one assume you subscribe to their building guideline? If so would you, please follow Hillsborough’s opening line regarding development and assist Burlingame retain it’s heritage and charm?

    “Through carefully considered development guidelines and zoning, the Town of Hillsborough endeavors to retain the rural country ambience, typified by scenic winding roads, spaciousness and lush vegetation.

    In addition to its rural charm and quiet atmosphere envisioned by its founders…”

  44. Eric

    Ok…i’m new to this (believe it or not!!) but can somebody just give me a brief overview of what’s happening .. and where the project stands as of today – June 13 !??!?!??

    THanks

  45. fred

    The project is dead in the water and it doesn’t look like anything will be done this decade.

  46. Jenn

    Well, Fred may have an inside track, who knows. For everyone else, Safeway did not substantially change a plan they submitted several years ago. There were many issues, like parking, and orientation of the building, lack of pedestrian feel, that even through mediation could not be solved. Therefore, both the Planning and majority of the Council turned it down about a year and a half ago. Many believe that Safeway is simply waiting out the election, to see if it a new council with different players can garner one more vote. With that, any Planning commission decision on a future store will be basically null and void, because the Council can overturn it. On the bright side of things, all around the Peninsula and Bay Area there are movements afoot to develop progressively, as in, not in the manner that has been used for the past 50 years. Some in our community have become enlightened to the fact that the property, part of which is city owned, could best be developed as a mixed use project with a Safeway (or other grocer), housing (perhaps live/work) and other retail stores. It is a prominant spot in town, close to public transportation. The thought is that such a project ultimately could generate more foot traffic and fewer cars (at least not a lot more than we already have), hence a livelier, more robust downtown than at present. The whole issue will be studied in the next few months, as part of an overall downtown specific plan that is way overdue. I personally hope that the rejected plan stays off the table, because it was completely justified to turn it down. Those who second guess that are mistaken.

  47. Bruce

    Wow Rich, just came back from vacation and all of suddenly I turned from developer to designer! Whatever…do your homework by reading the minutes.

  48. Anonymous

    Jenny and Nydia seem really out of it, don’t they?

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