COUNCIL ESTABLISHES WATERFRONT DISTRICT
Developer receives city approval to build 131 townhouses along creek in newly created district
Redwood City officials this week paved the way for a waterfront community in the city’s eastern end that will feature dense housing units, an expansive park and a network of waterway-connected paths.
In addition to establishing a waterfront district, the City Council on Monday approved the first project within it — developer Strada Investment Group’s plan to build 131 market-rate townhouses on a 7.9-acre site at 1548 Maple St. between Redwood Creek, Peninsula Yacht Club, the Redwood City Police Department and LifeMoves’ Maple Street Shelter.
As part of the project, Strada will build and maintain a waterfront park with launch points for non-motorized craft such as kayaks and paddle boards.
It also will provide a pedestrian/ bicycle extension of the San Francisco Bay Trail along the creek. That extension will eventually link to a planned underpass at Highway 101 and Woodside Road, allowing cyclists to ride unimpeded from the Bay to downtown Redwood City.
Strada is the developer picked to build the Golden State Warriors’ new basketball arena in San Francisco.
The council enthusiastically supported the project, saying it will provide a number of community benefits as well as homes for first-time buyers seeking to start families.
“Generally, we have two types of homes in Redwood City: a singlefamily home on a quarter-acre or an apartment,” said resident Isabella Chu. “If you’re a young family, this provides the opportunity for them to own a home. It’s a chance in the middle. … It’s something we haven’t seen in a really long time.”
The townhouses will be spread out in 20 three-story buildings with two levels of dwelling space above twovehicle garages. The development includes 88 two-bedroom units and 43 three-bedroom units. The entire site, including the waterfront park and trail, will be raised three to five feet to address future sea level rise.
The project contains a number of public benefits, some of which are required to offset some loosened regulations.
Among the benefits, the developer will extend Blomquist Street to the creek, where it will eventually lead
to a new vehicle bridge connecting to the One Marina Homes development. Strada says the bridge could carry up to 16,000 people a day.
Strada also will contribute $4.5 million to the city’s affordable housing fund, place overhead utility lines under ground along a future city park site adjacent to the development and install a new 24-inch water line, donate $100,000 to the city for restoration of a water tank of historical significance on the site and give the city $250,000 for future public gathering spaces that honor the maritime history of the inner harbor area.
One of the few criticisms expressed at the meeting was that the waterfront district will allow as many as 40 units of housing per acre, although Strada’s project calls only for 17 units per acre.
“I wish there was less parking; I wish it was taller, denser and closer to transit, but it’s a chance for over a hundred new families to have somewhere to live,” Chu said.
Assistant City Manager Aaron Aknin said another project is planned for the new district, at 557 East Bayshore Road, site of the former Century Park 12 theaters. SyRes Properties LLC proposes to build a 336unit multifamily housing development there with a 100,000-square-foot health club.