The 20-foot-high orange story poles are a giveaway that someone has bought the empty lot at the corner of Highway 9 and Massol Avenue, formerly the site of a Chevron gas station. Homebuilder Chris Blackwell closed escrow on the property on July 12.
Back in 1999, Chevron applied to build a 24-hour convenience store at its gas station on that corner, but strong opposition from neighbors killed the plan.
In 2005, Chevron and Texaco merged and Chevron took over the Texaco down the street at Highway 9 and North Santa Cruz Avenue, which has a 24-hour minimart.
Last August, Chevron shuttered its station on Highway 9 and Massol Avenue after operating on the site for decades. In October, the station was razed.
Chevron was asking for $1.5 million for the empty lot. Blackwell said he was able to procure a deal for a slightly lower amount, but would rather not reveal how much.
“It’s such a great site,” Blackwell said. “The potential for a beautiful gateway building there was an opportunity I couldn’t say no to.”
Saratoga native Blackwell plans to construct a 3,745-square-foot retail and office building on the site. The plans show a tower element that is 24 feet, 9 inches high, while the rest of the building is just under 20 feet. Blackwell’s plans show three tenant spaces, but one tenant could conceivably occupy the entire building, associate town planner Suzanne Davis said.
Blackwell hired architect Chris Spaulding to design his new building. Spaulding designed the Los Gatos Plumbing Supply building that went up at University Avenue and Roberts Road last April. Blackwell said he was inspired by that building’s awnings and its glass and brick exterior. He wants something similar on the former Chevron site.
Blackwell is scheduled to take his building plans to the Los Gatos Planning Commission at its Aug. 8 meeting. However, only four planning commissioners will be present, so he may continue his application until the subsequent meeting on Aug. 22.
Blackwell’s new property faces out on busy Highway 9, but it also backs up to homes on Almendra Avenue. Blackwell said he is well aware that neighborhood opposition killed Chevron’s building plans for the site. Neighbors did not want the increased traffic and noise that a 24-hour store was expected to bring to their neighborhood.
Blackwell said his friends told him that he should build as big a building as he could and max out the property. “But I didn’t want to because it would irritate the neighbors. I’m going to keep that building for the long term, and I want to make sure it’s built right and that the neighbors are happy. I want to be a good neighbor. I want to be proud of the building, and I want Los Gatos to be proud of it.”
He said he has walked the neighborhood and knocked on doors to introduce himself to his new neighbors. “The biggest concern, of course, is if there is going to be a lot of late-night use,” he said. “The neighbors were worried about a grocery store with deliveries. My intent is to do a 9 to 6 office retail use.”
He said he envisions possibly a bank or a real estate office occupying the new building.
Davis said that Blackwell’s project has been evaluated by the town’s traffic engineer. “The traffic generation from this proposed project is less intensive than the Chevron station,” she said. “My understanding is that the applicant has been getting a good response from the neighbors.”
