www.cities21.org

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Not very many years ago, the founders of Cities21 were children growing up in sleepy, comfortable communities. Today, those communities are collectively known as Silicon Valley, and life here is changing fast. Traffic congestion and housing shortages have damaged the quality of life this area has long enjoyed. If these conditions persist, the area may fall victim to its own success, as businesses, jobs and residents migrate to more attractive suburban communities, both in the Bay Area and in other parts of the country.

Fortunately, it is not too late to halt these trends. Cities21 has been formed to create a model for a new peninsula community, one that will protect the lifestyle to which we are accustomed. In doing so, we must acknowledge that we cannot turn back the clock-growth, business development and commuting are a permanent part of the new Silicon Valley. However, we can take steps to minimize the negative effects these factors have on our community.

Cities21 proposes using the Page Mill corridor as a model for the rest of the Valley. We envision a new business park evolving in the corridor. Currently, the area is a collection of isolated office buildings housing 23,000 workers. In time, this can become an asset to our community, while regaining its status as the area's premier office park.

This transformation will require a three-step process. First, we decrease auto usage by giving workers a better alternative. Increased transit use decreases the need for parking lots. This recovered land can then be made available to add features found in world-class communities: a mixture of housing, commercial buildings and retail, all blended in a setting that creates a desirable workplace by day and a rich community around the clock.

This vision belongs to no single person. We hope to bring together representatives of local residents, businesses, the City of Palo Alto and Stanford University. Together, we will outline mutually acceptable goals. Then, we will collectively take part in a design competition, where we solicit plans that will help us achieve those goals.