Redwood City’s housing agenda is about to take over center stage. At its regular Tuesday meeting, the City Council is set to spend most of the night on a sprawling package of decisions, from nearly $17 million in proposed affordable housing investments to a study that could turn the downtown library parking lot into mixed-income homes. Also on deck are final rules for the city’s Tenant Protection Ordinance and a round of federal grant allocations for shelters, home repairs and small-business support.
City staff are recommending roughly $17 million in local funding for two affordable housing projects: a 94-unit development at 1304 Middlefield Road from Sand Hill Property Company and a MidPen Housing project planned for city-owned land on Maple Street, according to the San Mateo Daily Journal. The Middlefield project is proposed as 100% affordable, with a mix of deeply subsidized units, including apartments restricted to households at 20% of area median income, alongside units at 50% to 70% of AMI. Staff are also recommending about $5 million in city support for the Maple Street project.
How The Middlefield Deal Stacks Up
For 1304 Middlefield, the city’s potential commitment is already sizable. The project has a conditional pledge of $4.3 million and, according to city documents, applied in late 2025 for another $7,960,000 – a package that would bring total city backing to more than $12.3 million if the council signs off. The City of Redwood City's Annual Action Plan notes that the project is already entitled and that the developer plans to pursue county affordable housing funds and tax credits, with a target construction start in fall 2027.
Library Lot Study Could Swap Stalls For Homes
Councilmembers will also take a hard look at a feasibility study that could transform the downtown library parking lot at 1016 Middlefield Road into a mixed-use affordable housing site. Early concepts outlined in staff materials range from roughly 70 to 104 units, while keeping some public parking on-site, the San Mateo Daily Journal reports. The current lot has about 98 public spaces on approximately 31,000 square feet of pavement, and staff modeled five scenarios that shift building height, parking layouts and unit counts.
Where The Federal Money Would Go
On the federal side of the ledger, the council will consider the city’s Program Year 2026 Action Plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME funds. The proposal recommends about $777,639 in CDBG spending and a series of allocations for services and housing preservation. According to the City of Redwood City's Annual Action Plan, the draft budget includes around $106,008 for public service and fair housing programs, about $143,652 for economic development and microenterprise assistance, approximately $184,771 for minor home repair programs and $211,500 for Habitat for Humanity’s home preservation loans.
Tenant Protections Go Operational
Housing policy is not just about bricks and mortar, and the city is lining up the fine print to match. The council is scheduled to adopt administrative regulations and fee schedules to fully implement Redwood City’s Tenant Protection Ordinance. That includes relocation assistance, administrative fees, and a fair rate-of-return appeal fee billed to landlords. As outlined on Redwood City’s Tenant Protection Ordinance page, the draft Administrative Regulations and Fair Rate of Return Appeal Guidelines are tentatively set for council consideration on May 11, 2026, with the Action Plan’s public review period running through that meeting.
City staff present the night’s agenda as a coordinated push across funding, policy and partnerships to preserve existing affordable homes, build new ones and shore up protections for renters. The full Action Plan and instructions for participating in the 6 PM session are available through the city’s housing pages and council meeting portal. Members of the public can review documents and submit comments before the meeting via the city’s CDBG and Action Plan notice and council agenda.
