MENLO PARK, CALIF. — St. Anton Partners and Facebook have teamed up to build Anton Menlo, a 394-unit, $120 million multifamily community in Menlo Park, a city within the San Francisco Bay Area.
Facebook will fund 15 low-income units in the upscale apartment complex, which is located near the social media giant's headquarters at Bayfront Expressway and Willow Road. St. Anton Partners has included an additional 38 low-income units so the residences can be rented at affordable rates. In doing so, St. Anton Partners was able to increase the project's density under the city's density bonus law.
Anton Menlo is the city's first significant new apartment building in more than 20 years. “It is a strategic collaboration,” says Ardie Zahedani, vice president of development at St. Anton Partners. “Facebook is getting involved because it is within walking distance to its campuses and there is a major housing shortage.”
Facebook is paying Sacramento, Calif.-based developer St. Anton Partners to provide the below-market-rate apartments. Menlo Park requires commercial developers to contribute to its affordable housing stock because the low-income developments create jobs and a demand for housing, according to the San Jose Mercury News. The units will be income restricted for 55 years.
“We’ve enjoyed partnering with Facebook to create new housing in Menlo Park,” says Steve Eggert, co-founder of St. Anton Parnters. “With the guidance of Facebook and its employees, we have designed a cutting-edge project that meets the needs and tastes of today’s sophisticated renters.”
Designed by national architecture firm KTGY Group Inc., the infill redevelopment project is situated on nearly 10 acres of former industrial land near Marsh Road off of Highway 101. The site recently received its final zoning approval from the Menlo Park City Council and is currently in the design review phase with city staff.
“We are thrilled to have new housing options coming to the city of Menlo Park to serve the Silicon Valley and the Marsh Road and Willow Road business areas,” says Peter Ohtaki, mayor of Menlo Park. “Providing new housing opportunities for employees working in the area will allow people to live where they work and to spend more time enjoying this great city.”
Through extensive focus groups, surveys and coordination with Facebook, Anton Menlo was designed with cutting-edge technology features and community amenities catering to today’s renters.
Anton Menlo includes 13,200 square feet of amenity space, which features a convenience store, café, sports pub, bicycle repair shop, pet spa and concierge services. Amenities also include an indoor/outdoor wellness facility with personal training; resort-inspired pool and spa; iCafe, a modern business facility; clubhouse with full kitchen and cooking area; and a large rooftop entertainment deck.
“We designed a community built on amenities and social settings,” says Keith Labus a principal at architectural and planning firm KTGY. “Anton Menlo has everything the young professional could want to complement their busy lifestyle.”
St. Anton Partners is also proposing a direct pedestrian and bicycle connection from the Bay Trail to Anton Menlo; new and repaired pedestrian sidewalks throughout Haven Avenue with street lighting and lighted crosswalks; and improved bus stop facilities.
“At more than 630,000 square feet, this project is one of the largest new construction rental residential projects in the state. We’re pleased to bring it to where housing is needed most,” says Peter Geremia, co-founder of St. Anton Partners.
The apartment community will feature 35 studios, 208 one-bedroom, 138 two-bedroom and 12 three-bedroom residences. Demolition and grading is slated to begin later this month, with construction anticipated to last 24 months.
— Rachel Goff