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Santa Clara County · Bay Area · California

Housing blocked in Palo Alto

3 documented cases, 526 units proposed. No decision records on file yet. Housing element in compliance, per HCD.

3
documented cases
526
units proposed
0
cases denied
18.7
avg. months of delay

Decisions coming up

156 California Avenue (Mollie Stone's site)

Palo Alto · Santa Clara County · 390 units · 50 affordable
Approval of negotiated project · Palo Alto City Council
Date not yet set
Builder's remedy application

On May 18, 2026 the council voted 4-2 to pursue a negotiated version: 390 units (50 affordable) in towers up to 14 stories, down from the 17-story builder's remedy filing, which stays on file as a fallback. Architectural review, then a council vote later in 2026.

Lot T, 450 Lytton Avenue

Palo Alto · Santa Clara County · 72 units · 72 affordable
Development agreement · Palo Alto City Council
Date not yet set

Alta Housing filed its formal application in February 2026 for six stories and 72 affordable units on a city-owned parking lot. A lawsuit by the group Downtown Vibrancy produced an August 2026 ruling that local coverage described as boosting the city's effort. Council action on the development agreement has no date; construction would start in 2028 at the earliest.

All decisions coming up

Documented cases

156 California Avenue Towers (Mollie Stone's Site)
382 units · 2023
In review
567 Maybell Avenue Affordable Senior Housing
72 units · 2013
Withdrawn
Lot T Affordable Housing — 450 Lytton Avenue
72 units · 2025
Stalled

Mechanisms used

California Environmental Quality Act2 uses
Builder's Remedy1 use
Height and Density Limits1 use
Voter Approval Requirements (Measure J/R and similar)1 use

Decision records

No decision records on file yet. Decision records are kept per case; open a case above to read them with their sources.

Recurring organizations

Organizations and developers that appear in two or more documented cases here. Individual officials and residents are not listed.

No organization appears in more than one case yet.

Housing element and permit activity

Housing element in compliance, per HCD.

No HCD permit leads imported for this jurisdiction.

The permit leads layer covers only some jurisdictions so far; a missing import says nothing about permit activity here.