REDWOOD CITY, CA — Redwood City will sell a section of downtown public land for $10.75 million as part of a deal that also moves a planned affordable housing project for seniors to Veterans Boulevard.
The City Council voted 4-1 to conditionally vacate about 21,104 square feet of public right-of-way along Spring Street and an adjoining triangular parklet, clearing the way for the land to become part of the 1900 Broadway office development. Two councilmembers were recused.
As part of the same action, the council approved replacing a previously planned affordable housing site at 847 Woodside Rd. with 705 Veterans Blvd., where Eden Housing plans to build a five-story development with 76 apartments primarily for lower-income seniors.
Both moves are connected to the 1900 Broadway project, a seven-story, 256,000-square-foot office building the council approved in October 2024. Its development agreement allows the developer to meet affordable housing requirements by donating another property and partnering on an off-site project.
The original plan called for a 71-unit affordable housing project on Woodside Road, but Eden Housing says that site is no longer financially viable.
The Woodside property had become "no longer economically feasible" because of increased acquisition and clearance costs and changes to state tax-credit scoring, said Dixie Baus, an Eden Housing representative.
Baus described the Veterans Boulevard property as an attractive site because of its proximity to transit, medical facilities and downtown amenities. She said the location could offer "an active lifestyle opportunity for our seniors and aging in the community."
Plans for the Veterans Boulevard property call for 75 affordable apartments and one manager's unit. Twelve would be reserved for extremely low-income households, 23 for very low-income households and 40 for low-income households.
Most would be studios and one-bedroom apartments, with around 36 parking spaces planned. The property is within a half-mile of Caltrain.
"I am very excited about the fact that it is senior housing," said Councilmember Chris Sturken.
Mayor Elmer Martínez Saballos similarly pointed to demand among older residents, calling the project incredible.
"They are our fastest growing population in San Mateo County, and yet these buildings aren't happening on a regular basis," Martínez Saballos said.
The $10.75 million land sale also means the loss of the small parklet near Marshall and Walnut streets, which has been used as a temporary dog park while another downtown park was under construction.
Some residents objected to losing the informal dog run and heritage trees.
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