Plans are in the works to replace the historic building on Main Street that is home to the well-known Al's Barbershop. Los Altos Planning Commissioners unanimously approved a new retail building at 362-378 Main St. at their July 16 meeting.
The new construction, described in a city staff report as "two classic plaster stucco storefronts," will replace the existing historic building that was built in the 1920s.
The city's historic commission has already granted approval to remove the potential landmark building, said assistant planner David Kornfield, in a staff report.
The building was "not architecturally unique," said historical commissioner Mark Sandoval. "In fact it was pretty unsightly. The commission found the significance was the personality inside - Al's Barbershop."
Sandoval, also the architect for the project, said "conflict of interest was not an issue" when the item came to the historical commission because he did not exercise "voting powers or voice."
The new building includes space for Al "on the parking plaza side," Sandoval said.
And there will be a "historic plaque" noting the significance of the barbershop, Kornfield said.