Plans for a towering addition to Redwood City's skyline have paused. The proposed 30-story senior housing development, which was set to stand at 1800 Broadway and 910 Marshall Street, has been withdrawn by developer R&M Properties, according to SF YIMBY. The project would have created 313 apartments within a structure that reached 345 feet, making it the tallest building in San Mateo County, if not for an even loftier project planned in Menlo Park by N17 Development.
This decision to shelve the project has not been cushioned by any supporting details concerning the developer’s future intentions. Stephen Reller, representing R&M Properties, simply indicated a desire to "resubmit a project in the next few months" in a statement by SF YIMBY. The site, located merely a block away from Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center and within Redwood City's growing urban core, represents a pivotal potential for downtown development.
The original blueprint for the site did not include affordable housing units. Yet, it was positioned to benefit from the State Density Bonus program, a perk leveraged for its senior housing classification. R&M's ambitions come as no surprise to local observers. Redwood City officials are reportedly anticipating a revised projection from the developers come spring, as was mentioned in an article by the Business Times.
Local advocates such as Jeremy Levine, policy manager for the Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County, underscore the importance of creating a balanced urban environment in their assessment of downtown Redwood City's future. Levine lauded the city's efforts in densification, noting, "Housing is an important part of that approach, because you can’t just have office workers in a downtown, You also need people living there," which he told the Business Times. His perspective echoes the framework supporting robust growth encompassing commercial and residential projects like the proposed development at 1800 Broadway.
A factor in the tower's construction plans included an aeronautical study by the Federal Aviation Administration due to its proximity to the San Francisco International Airport. The FAA concluded that the project would not pose a hazard to air navigation, as reported by the Business Times.
