Deal would bring Google closer to another Mtn. View campus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) September 12, 2006 -- Deal would bring Google closer to another Mtn. View campus

By Renee Koury
Mercury News

Fast-growing Google could see its footprint in Mountain View grow even larger, with a possible new campus just a hop away from its thriving ``Googleplex'' headquarters in the North Shoreline area.

Tuesday night, the Mountain View City Council is expected to approve a deal to negotiate exclusively with Google to build new offices and research facilities on 9.2 acres at Charleston Road and Shoreline Boulevard.

The Internet giant potentially could design and build a new campus of up to 310,000 square feet. Google already occupies about 900,000 square feet on city-owned property in the industrial zone, said Ellis Burns, the city's economic development director.

``This gives Google an opportunity for expansion that allows them to grow, which is pretty important to the valley,'' Burns said. ``Google continues to be very big employment-wise, not just for Mountain View but also for the whole area.''

The new buildings could fit as many as 1,000 employees, Burns said. Google currently employs nearly 8,000 full-time workers worldwide, according to its Web site. But it was unclear whether Google would fill all the buildings with new workers, or use some space to consolidate offices now scattered around the valley.

A Google representative could not be reached immediately for comment. The company initially expressed interest in expanding to the Charleston East area in March. A deal to negotiate with the city would be the first concrete step toward securing the spot.

The Charleston East property isn't the only local site on Google's radar. The company also has been negotiating with NASA/Ames Research Center to create a campus of up to 1 million square feet at Moffett Field. No definite proposal has emerged from those talks.

The Charleston site is part of an 18.6-acre city-owned parcel that was formerly used as a parking lot for the Shoreline Amphitheatre. The spacious Charleston Park separates that site from Google's headquarters on Amphitheatre Parkway.

If a deal goes through, Google would take over about half the Charleston site. The other half is designated for a first-class hotel and conference center. City leaders hope the hotel will thrive with business from Google and other nearby high-tech giants, while its conference center could provide a gathering place for local industry.

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