MAC Meeting: Marketplace Neighbors to Get Makeover

An artist rendering of the proposed facade of the Ice Creamery and surrounding businesses.

The core downtown Castro Valley Boulevard area continues to get a facelift, as the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) approved plans for façade renovations of the building just west of the Castro Valley Marketplace at their Monday night meeting.

The site at 3315 Castro Valley Boulevard is approximately 16,080 square feet and includes the Ice Creamery and multiple other tenants. There are no plans for any existing business to leave, but the goal is to create a uniform look with the Marketplace, paseo, and other surrounding buildings.

The plan calls for new awnings, stylized signage, and more, according to the application submitted by the “Castro Valley Investment Group,” which is the LLC owned by Craig Semmelmeyer, which also owns the Marketplace.

A few speakers raised concerns over parking, saying the shared parking lot behind the buildings is inadequate and “small businesses are going to suffer,” but others gave positive feedback, saying the downtown area has improved in appearance.

“Overall, we’ve had very positive feedback,” said Gary Slate of the Castro Valley Chamber of Commerce. “Parking is a challenge, but a separate issue to the building. Enjoy the aesthetics.”

At this week’s meeting, the MAC also approved plans to allow the construction of 25 large single-family homes at 5499 Hilltop Road at the intersection of Five Canyons Parkway. The new homes will be constructed on 57 acres in a semi-circle that loops around an existing home with the Five Canyons residential development to the northwest.

Floor plans range from 4,010 square feet to 4,340 square feet, with homes up to five bedrooms with four-and-a-half baths and three-car garages.

The MAC also gave the go-ahead to an application to subdivide one 23,615-square-foot site that is currently a single-family home at 18485 Almond Road into two parcels.

During closing comments, the MAC made sure to note that during the upcoming 101st Rowell Ranch Rodeo events, the Castro Valley Rotary Club will be presenting “BBQ, Axes, and Brew” in lieu of the traditional chili cookoff. The event will feature axe-throwing, beer, wine, BBQ, and live music on Friday, May 12th, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the Rowell Ranch Rodeo grounds.

“Come out and support the Rotary and the Rodeo,” said MAC member Ken Carbone.