Franklin Hotel may go condo

Oakland Tribune, Aug 2, 2005 by Tara Ramroop, STAFF WRITER

SAN MATEO -- Owners of the historic Ben Franklin Hotel want to remodel it into the city's newest condominiums, but they have to hear what the public thinks before going any further.

Anyone can speak his piece Aug. 11 during a presentation on the downtown gem's future, conducted by city planners and Oakland-based A.F. Evans Company.

Early plans call for converting the 99 hotel rooms into approximately 40 one- and two-bedroom condos, reconfiguring the existing penthouse and refurbishing the lobby and adjacent retail space.

Allison Borden, the city's associate planner, said both the city and A.F. Evans want to preserve the building's turn-of-the-century architecture.

The Aug. 11 meeting will give anyone a chance to learn more about the project and voice any concerns before it heads to the Planning Commission, Borden said.

After a commission study session -- which has not been scheduled yet -- A.F. Evans representatives will head back to the drawing board to prepare a formal project submittal, Borden said.

United Airlines used the hotelto house flight crews on layovers, but it's been unused for almost two years since the airline declared bankruptcy. The city has been eager to get a revenue generator in the building, a goal that has been a key part of the city's downtown retail strategy.

The Ben Franklin remains one of the tallest buildings downtown, at nine stories. It played host to formal dinner dances in the post- World War II years.

The meeting takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11 at the Ben Franklin Hotel, 44 E. Third Ave. For more information, contact Allison Borden at (650) 522-7211 or by e-mail at aborden@cityofsanmateo.org.

Staff writer Tara Ramroop covers San Mateo. She can be reached at (650) 348-4302 or by e-mail at tramroop@sanmateocountytimes.com.