In a significant shift from earlier commitments, google is now exploring the sale of middlefield park, a major development site in the east whisman area of mountain view. The 40-acre property had been slated to become a centerpiece of the city’s residential expansion plans, with a proposal that included 1,900 housing units, a 2.4-acre affordable housing dedication, and 1.3 million square feet of office space. Now, the tech company is reconsidering its role in the project and is seeking developers with the capacity to carry forward the housing component, though it has not provided a timeline or further details on the sale.
Google stated that the reevaluation of its real estate priorities is part of a broader strategy to align with the evolving needs of its hybrid workforce. The company emphasized its continued presence in mountain view, even as it looks to offload its responsibilities for middlefield park. The site, located in an area primarily characterized by office buildings and parking lots, was viewed as a key opportunity to rebalance the city's jobs-to-homes ratio and improve urban density.
The city of mountain view confirmed that google has begun talks with multiple potential buyers, all of whom are residential developers. While the company has not abandoned the idea of housing at the site, its withdrawal from direct involvement raises concerns about the future of the project, especially the promised affordable housing component. The original plan included a 2.4-acre parcel earmarked for 380 affordable units, but it remains unclear whether this land dedication will be honored in a new agreement.
The potential sale is a blow to the city’s broader vision for east whisman, a 400-acre area rezoned in 2019 to support up to 5,000 new homes and 2.3 million square feet of additional office space. Google’s middlefield park project was intended to supply roughly one-third of that residential goal. Despite a strong start and initial collaboration with lendlease, an international real estate firm, the partnership ended in 2021, and google has since been working to find new partners to push the project forward.
This is not the first time google has scaled back major real estate efforts in mountain view. In 2024, the company canceled the landings project, a 41-acre office complex planned for north bayshore. That cancellation not only halted new commercial growth but also put community benefits such as infrastructure and green space upgrades into question. Like middlefield park, the landings project was shelved due to what the company described as changing economic conditions and a realignment of priorities in light of remote work and hybrid workforce models.
The shift in google’s development strategy signals wider challenges for municipalities that have aligned their housing goals with tech industry promises. With fewer employees returning to offices and companies reducing their commercial footprints, long-term real estate commitments are being reevaluated. Mountain view spokesperson lenka wright acknowledged this reality, noting that while office development may be slowed or deferred, the city still expects residential projects to advance, particularly in areas like north bayshore.
That optimism, however, may be tested. North bayshore was rezoned similarly to east whisman, but on an even larger scale, allowing for up to 9,850 housing units and 3 million square feet of new office space. Google is expected to contribute 7,000 homes to that total, along with parks, retail, and restaurants over a 30-year timeline. But given the rollback at middlefield park, questions are mounting about whether google will follow through with its larger commitments.
Mountain view is now left to reassess its development trajectory. While city officials remain hopeful that housing components of these plans will move forward regardless of corporate shifts, the outcome hinges on who acquires middlefield park and whether they are willing and able to honor the original housing intentions. As more tech companies scale back physical footprints, cities that once leaned heavily on private partnerships to solve housing shortages must prepare for uncertainty and adapt their strategies accordingly.
