Throughout its 80-year history, Hillsdale Shopping Center has evolved and changed to meet the demands and expectations of its community. Online retail has changed the way people shop — and the pandemic has accelerated this trend. Department stores have always been the foundation of shopping centers, but they are on the decline across the Bay Area and nationwide. These changes have accelerated the evolution of shopping centers nationwide – from shopping centers to neighborhood centers with a diverse mix of uses.

The shopping center ownership team at Hillsdale engaged Gehl as urban design and community engagement lead to reimagine the future of Hillsdale. The 52-acre site adjacent to Caltrain commuter rail consists of commercial retail uses, some portions of which have not been revitalized since the 1980’s. Together with the client team and community, Gehl envisions a future for Hillsdale which is vibrant, economically successful, and sustainable. It will be anchored by shopping, dining, and community space, and complemented by a mix of new places to live and work in a people-first and highly walkable neighborhood.

Gehl has been working together with the client team and community leaders to develop a Master Plan which creates a great place, is economically successful, and meets the community’s needs. This work has included internal design workshops, public ‘open house’ workshops, and even the design and staffing of an ‘Ideas Store’ in the shopping center.

The engagement process has been designed to give community members a place to share their voices in making the shopping center a more livable people-first space. During each open house, visitors are invited to learn about the project, speak to Gehl team members 1 on 1, and give their insight through a number of platforms. The feedback received at these open houses has assisted Gehl in understanding how Hillsdale should look and feel. An important part of Gehl’s community engagement process is taking what is heard from customers and community and distilling it into guidance for the team. The priorities the community has shared with over the last several years will inform Gehl’s Plans moving forward.