Hyatt Rickeys Redevelopment
 

Hyatt Hotel Redevelopment in Palo Alto, Calif., Faces Delay By Chuck Carroll, San Jose Mercury News, Calif.
Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
Apr. 10--The Palo Alto planning commission dealt the proposed redevelopment of the Hyatt Rickeys hotel a blow Tuesday night by deciding that the city should more thoroughly analyze traffic within a quarter-mile radius of the site.

Several other major projects along the Charleston Road corridor are also in various stages. These include the Campus for Jewish Life, the old Elks Club site and a school expansion. Taken together, the traffic would be too much, residents say.

These projects would all be put on hold until the study is done, under an ordinance the city council is expected to consider Monday.

Tuesday's action doesn't kill the Hyatt project, but it is certain to delay it -- perhaps for a year or so.

"Hyatt's been working on this for some time, and they were hoping this could move forward expeditiously," said Jim Musbach, Hyatt's economic consulting spokesman, referring to the more than five years the hotel chain has invested so far. "I don't think this will affect the viability of the project, but it does delay the improved economics for some time, and the hotel is already under distress."

The chain wants to raze virtually all of the 47 existing '50s-era buildings and erect a 320-room luxury hotel and 302 luxury apartment units on the 16-acre site on El Camino Real.

Musbach also defended his economic analysis of the project against neighborhood critics, who complained that the impact fees to be charged to the developer wouldn't cover the additional cost of providing more city services and a school for new residents. He said the project will be paying the maximum allowed under Palo Alto law.

-----To see more of the San Jose Mercury News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.mercurynews.com.

I hope this project will be approved in some form soon. This is probably the worst hotel in the Hyatt chain, facility wise. I am very surprised they are able to keep it open. It has a great location, but the buildings are in such horrible shape that they shouldn't be charging more than $29 a night here. If anyone is going to stay here, be sure to stay in the Tower Building. Even it's not great, but it's a vast improvement over the rest of the property. I'm very surprised that the roofs on many of the Garden Room buildings haven't collapsed.

I like 50's retro as much as the next person but I too agree that this property is 'tired'. I stayed in a tower room back in December and it was fine but not up to the usual Hyatt standards. One nice thing, since nobody stays there on weekends, it was very peaceful and quiet. The breakfast was awful. But I think the San Jose Airport Hyatt ranks below Rickey's. At least Rickey's has an elevator and a certain charm. The SJ Hyatt is completely charm-free, requires you to lug your bags up a flight of stairs (like Motel 6),and should've been flattened years ago and completely rebuilt (like they did with the SFO HR).

Living in Palo Alto, a mile away from Rickey's, I can say that it ain't over until it's over -- the Council hasn't yet voted on this delay. It may just be a tactic to ensure Hyatt reduces the number of condos they were going to stick in the back, or do a better job of dealing with the traffic impact.

And wasn't the '87 quake the most recent event that caused the "re-development" of the SFO HR?

how soon they forget...I think oyu mean the 89 quake...

Not quite. The 'new' Hyatt Regency SFO opened shortly BEFORE the big '89 earthquake but suffered severe damage and was closed for a year or so to rebuild. The irony is that the old Hyatt was a series of low-rise motel-type buildings that would've probably sustained less damage

They come so often, I tend to forget the dates. Once when I was a kid, our whole house (in LA) started shaking. My mother didn't lose a beat. She looked straight at me and yelled out, "Richard, STOP THAT!"

P.S. The City Council voted to uphold the planning commission last night and did indeed delay all development in the area, including Rickey's, for nine months. Shows you how much I know about my own town!

(Edited to add the P.S.)



[This message has been edited by RichardInSF (edited 04-15-2003).]

Richard, I'm working off and on at Fabian and Charleston in Palo Alto. As far as I can tell, Rickey's is the closest big chain hotel. The Sheraton/Westin is a good drive away and Rickey's is cheaper. So as a Diamond, I'm thinking of trying it out next week. Are there other close options?

No other Hyatt options nearby.

There are a brand new Courtyard by Mariott and Residence Inn just south of Rickey's. The Courtyard seems willing to deal; the Residence Inn thinks they can generally get $179 a night (but I can't imagine they are worth that). The former Hyatt Cabana has re-surfaced as a Crowne Plaza and the rooms look OK, although the renovation is now about 3 years in the past.

In terms of non-chain properties, just south of Rickey's and across the street from the Crowne Plaza, "Dinah's" behind Trader Vic's seems to have decent rooms.

P.S. I live a mile away from Fabian and Charleston, how about getting together for a cuppa sometime?

(Edited, as above, to add the P.S.)


[This message has been edited by RichardInSF (edited 04-16-2003).]