Mecah Proposes Tallest Building in San Mateo

A 14-story mixed-use tower could become the tallest building in the city of San Mateo.

Mike Field of Mecah Ventures has filed formal permits to build a 14-story building at 1 East 4th Avenue in downtown San Mateo, SF Yimby reported. Mecah Ventures, headquartered in Menlo Park, owns mixed-use developments in San Mateo, Palo Alto, Redwood City, Belmont, San Carlos, Los Altos and Menlo Park.

Mecah Proposes Tallest Building in San Mateo — 1 East 4th Avenue (Arc Tec)

The current tallest building in the city of San Mateo is located just across the street from the 1 East 4th Avenue site. The office complex at 400 South El Camino Real also rises 14 stories, though it tops out at 165 feet; the 1 East 4th building is expected to be 202 feet tall, according to SF Yimby.

It wouldn’t be the tallest building in San Mateo County, however. Currently, the 317-foot-tall Genesis North Tower in South San Francisco holds the title, though it could be outdone by N17’s proposed 458-foot-tall building as part of its Willow Park mixed-use development in Menlo Park.

Mecah’s plans call for 379,200 square feet above ground, including 174,700 square feet of housing and 119,760 square feet of commercial space. Underground, there would be two basement levels with parking space for 171 cars and 283 bicycles. The building would include ground-floor retail, housing on the lower 10 floors, and offices on the top four floors, including access to a rooftop balcony.

For the housing portion of the building, Mecah is looking to build 236 rental units, 36 of which would be deed-restricted as affordable housing. Half of those units would be for very low-income households and 18 would be set aside for moderate-income households. In San Mateo County, very low-income is defined as $67,700 for one person and $96,700 for a household of four; moderate-income is generally $156,750 of annual income or less for one person and $223,900 for a household of four.

Residents of the property would be able to take advantage of on-site amenities like a private lounge, spa, fitness center and a golf simulator.

— Chris Malone Méndez