History of Vallco

 Source: Cupertino Matters | Date: 9/26/2018

1976 –

• Vallco Shopping Mall opens as a joint venture of Varian and 4 families

1986 –

• Increased competition from Valley Fair and Stanford Shopping Center starts long decline in foot traffic; tenants start move to competing malls 

1990s –

• Westfield considers a mixed use redevelopment at Vallco, but decides to sell its stake, and instead purchases and continues to improve Valley Fair Mall

2006 –

• City council approved 200 housing units but this was reversed by Measure D referendum

2007 –

• AMC Theatre opens, as part of the most significant renovation since inception

2012 –

• City kicks off General Plan Update

 2014 –

• Sand Hill Property Company (SHP) acquires parcels held by four separate owners, multiple owners had made it impossible to make major improvements over decades of slow decline
• General Plan Amendment passed and RHNA housing allocation assigned including 389 units at Vallco; Better Cupertino says no to any housing at Vallco

 2015 –

• SHP’s “Hills at Vallco” plan is presented to community in September after a year of community engagement, and enters City review process
• Macy’s and Sears close
• Cities Association declares housing shortage a crisis

 2016 –

• J.C. Penney closes
• Better Cupertino puts Measure C on the ballot to block development across
• Cupertino, and particularly The Hills at Vallco
• SHP counters with Measure D, and suspends City review process
• Measure C fails with 39% yes / 61% no
• Measure D fails with 45% yes / 55% no

 2017 –

• City launches speaker series on development issues
• SHP returns to the table, requesting the City create a Specific Plan for Vallco
• Responding to the housing crisis, the California legislature passes SB 35 at end of session and it is signed into law by Governor Brown

 2018 –

• AMC Theatres close in March; say they would return if Specific Plan approved
• SHP submits project in March under SB 35 requiring ministerial approval, granted after 180-day review by City
• City conducts robust Specific Plan process including 2 weeks of charrettes, open studios with designers on-site, and produces draft plan plus exhaustive EIR; Specific Plan approved by City Council on a 3-2 vote on September 19