A proposed mixed development on a 2.46-acre former apricot orchard at 567-595 Maybell Avenue in the Barron Park neighborhood of Palo Alto. Developer: Palo Alto Housing Corporation (PAHC), a nonprofit. The project included 60 apartment units for very low-income seniors (households earning less than 50% AMI), plus 12 market-rate single-family homes to generate revenue to help subsidize the senior apartments. PAHC acquired the site in December 2012 for $15.6 million with a $5.8 million city loan. The Palo Alto City Council approved the required Planned Community rezoning by a unanimous 9-0 vote in June 2013. Within weeks, the Maybell Action Group organized a referendum petition collecting over 4,000 signatures (2,298 required) to force a citywide vote. In November 2013, with approximately 41% of registered voters participating, voters rejected Measure D by 56% to 44% — 6,437 votes against, 5,036 in favor. PAHC sold the site in April 2014 to Golden Gate Homes LLC for $22 million. Golden Gate Homes proposed 12 single-family homes, which the City Council approved in June 2016 — with support from the same PASZ members who organized the referendum. The 60 senior affordable units were never built. After the referendum, the City Council abolished Planned Community zoning, ensuring similar projects had no future pathway. The case became nationally cited as the archetypal example of a liberal city blocking housing for its poorest residents.
| Date | Event | What the record shows |
|---|---|---|
| December 1, 2012 | PAHC Acquires Maybell Site | 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. Palo Alto Online: https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2013/11/06/voters-shoot-down-maybell-development |
| June 1, 2013 | City Council Votes 9-0 to Approve Planned Community Rezoning | 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. Palo Alto Online: https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2013/11/06/voters-shoot-down-maybell-development |
| July 1, 2013 | Maybell Action Group Organizes Referendum Petition | 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 Online: https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2013/11/06/voters-shoot-down-maybell-development |
| November 5, 2013 | Measure D Defeated — 56% to 44% | 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. Palo Alto Online: https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2013/11/06/voters-shoot-down-maybell-development |
| December 1, 2013 | City Council Abolishes Planned Community Zoning Process | 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. Palo Alto Online: https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2018/03/02/nonprofit-housing-execs-palo-alto-process-still-a-problem |
| April 10, 2014 | PAHC Sells Maybell Site for $22 Million | 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. Palo Alto Online: https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2014/04/10/pahc-sells-maybell-site-for-22-million |
| November 1, 2014 | PASZ Candidates Win City Council Seats | 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. Suburbs Substack: https://suburbanstats.substack.com/p/local-politics-is-the-reason-your-suburb-is-still-so-segregated |
| April 18, 2016 | PASZ Members Support Luxury Homes on Same Site | 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. Palo Alto Online: https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2016/04/18/housing-plan-for-maybell-site-wins-neighborhood-support |
| June 9, 2016 | City Council Approves 12 Luxury Single-Family Homes | 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. Palo Alto Online: https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2016/06/09/maybell-housing-development-wins-approval |
Rating 4 of 5. Primary records for the key facts; minor details may rest on reporting. Corrections: https://whokilledthebuilding.com/corrections.