567 Maybell Avenue Affordable Senior Housing

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Palo Alto Housing Corporation acquires the 2.46-acre former apricot orchard at 567-595 Maybell Avenue for approximately $15.6 million, including a $5.8 million loan from the City of Palo Alto. PAHC's plan: rezone via Planned Community overlay to build 60 affordable senior apartments plus 12 market-rate single-family homes.

The Palo Alto City Council votes unanimously — all nine members — to approve the Planned Community rezoning for the Maybell Avenue senior affordable housing project. The unanimous vote reflects broad council support.

Within weeks of the council's 9-0 approval, the Maybell Action Group begins circulating a referendum petition seeking to overturn the rezoning. They collect over 4,000 signatures — nearly double the 2,298 required. The council unanimously chooses to let voters decide.

Palo Alto voters reject Measure D by 56% to 44%. Final vote: 6,437 NO, 5,036 YES. Approximately 41% of registered voters participated — meaning approximately 17% of all registered voters made the decisive choice. PAHC announces it will not attempt to bring the project back.

In the immediate aftermath of the referendum, the Palo Alto City Council abolishes the Planned Community (PC) zoning overlay process that the Maybell project had used, ensuring similar affordable projects have no equivalent pathway in the future.

PAHC sells the Maybell site to Golden Gate Homes LLC for $22 million — recouping its $15.6 million purchase price plus carrying costs. Executive Director Candice Gonzalez: "Our goal was to be able to pay back all of our lenders and recover our significant carrying costs, which we have been able to achieve." The 60 senior affordable units are permanently dead.

PASZ-aligned candidates Tom DuBois and Eric Filseth win Palo Alto City Council seats in the November 2014 election, riding the momentum of the Maybell referendum victory.

Palo Alto Online reports that the Maybell neighborhood — including PASZ members who organized the 2013 referendum — is enthusiastically supporting the Golden Gate Homes proposal for 12 single-family homes on the same site. Bob Moss is among the supporters.

The Palo Alto City Council approves Golden Gate Homes' proposal for 12 market-rate single-family homes on the former Maybell site. Councilmember Tom DuBois makes the motion; Councilmember Eric Filseth seconds. DuBois: "I think it's extremely rare that we have a developer and a petition from citizens and a bunch of citizens showing up to say they support a development." The outcome is complete: 60 affordable senior homes replaced by 12 market-rate houses.

"Maybell was the single greatest tragedy and demonstrated lack of compassion by the local residents in recent Palo Alto history." PAHC acquired the site with a city loan, designed a project appropriate for the neighborhood, and won unanimous council approval. After the referendum defeat, recouped costs on a $22M land sale to Golden Gate Homes.

Voted unanimously 9-0 to approve the Planned Community rezoning in June 2013. After the referendum defeat, abolished the PC zoning process ensuring future affordable projects had no equivalent pathway. Mayor Scharff personally attempted to negotiate with Maybell Action Group leaders.

Organized the referendum petition (4,000+ signatures) that forced Measure D. Stated concern: the 12 market-rate single-family homes were "too large and out of scale" with the neighborhood. The same organization subsequently supported the Golden Gate Homes 12-unit luxury project on the same site in 2016. Rebranded as PASZ after the victory and helped elect DuBois and Filseth to the council.

November 5, 2013: 56% NO, 44% YES on Measure D. 6,437 votes against, 5,036 in favor. ~41% of registered voters participated. Approximately 17% of registered voters determined that 60 low-income seniors would not have homes in Palo Alto.

PASZ member elected to City Council in 2014 on referendum momentum. In 2016, made the motion to approve the 12-unit luxury Golden Gate Homes development on the same Maybell site: "I think it's extremely rare that we have a developer and a petition from citizens and a bunch of citizens showing up to say they support a development."

Known for routinely opposing new development in Palo Alto. Appeared on the supporters' list for the Golden Gate Homes luxury project in 2016 on the same site whose affordable housing he had helped kill in 2013.

The Maybell Action Group filed a referendum petition collecting over 4,000 signatures (2,298 required) to overturn the Palo Alto City Council's unanimous 9-0 approval of the Planned Community rezoning for the Maybell senior affordable housing project. The council placed the rezoning on the November 2013 ballot as Measure D. Voters rejected it 56-44% in a low-turnout election (41% of registered voters). The referendum killed the project outright — PAHC abandoned it immediately and sold the site. Additionally, the referendum triggered the abolition of PC zoning by the city council, ensuring future affordable projects had no equivalent pathway. The referendum victory became the organizing foundation for PASZ, which elected two council members in 2014 and shaped Palo Alto housing policy for a decade.

Official vote totals and ballot measure text.

Best analysis of Maybell as a political organizing case study. Covers PASZ electoral wins.

Confirms PC zoning abolition after Maybell. Best source for institutional legacy of the referendum.

Coverage of June 2016 approval of 12 luxury homes on same site. Contains DuBois motion quote.

Documents PASZ members including Bob Moss supporting the luxury project — same people who killed affordable housing.

Confirms $22M sale price, Candice Gonzalez quote, and Golden Gate Homes as buyer.

Primary source for the Measure D defeat. Confirms 6,437 NO, 5,036 YES, 56-44%, ~41% voter turnout.