By: 5:00 am on January 3 Building permits have been filed for a six-story affordable housing complex at 429 MacArthur Avenue near Redwood City, San Mateo County. The project could add several dozen apartments in the unincorporated North Fair Oaks neighborhood. Affirmed Housing is the project developer filing through North Fair Oaks Apartments LP The proposal is one of five affordable projects bolstered by the San Mateo County supervisors over a year and a half ago. In August of 2023, the supervisors directed nearly $30 million of county and federal money toward affordable housing in Belmont Affirmed received $4 million to assist in the planning of the North Fair Oaks apartments at 429 MacArthur Avenue The structure will comprise a single-story concrete podium level topped by five levels of wood-frame construction The ground floor will include four apartments with stoops onto San Mateo Avenue and Douglas Avenue alongside the typical mail room The second floor will provide residents with a community lounge and offices for the onsite property management and case manager’s offices The podium will be topped with a south-facing courtyard While renderings have not been shared and the architect has not been announced the planning application provides some insight into the potential design The structure will feature a butterfly roof as a prominent aesthetic feature that “provides visual interest and breaks up the mass further.” A full-floor setback will reduce the perceived scale of the complex A two-story tile canopy will frame the lobby entrance and the rooftop will be designed to allow for the installation of solar panels the building will add 86 units of affordable housing by the county seat While the project is listed as in Redwood City it is inside unincorporated North Fair Oaks Demolition will be required for the existing industrial structure The estimated cost and timeline for construction have yet to be shared Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates Like YIMBY on Facebook Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews ga('send', 'event', ‘Robert ‘Becker, 'Impression', 'https://sfyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/desktop-ad.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ADVERTISEMENT ga('send', 'event', 'SF YIMBY', 'Impression', 'https://sfyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/sfyimbyadnews.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ga('send', 'event', 'SF YIMBY', 'Impression', 'https://sfyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/sf-yimby-dot-com-graphic.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); Follow on Instagram © COPYRIGHT New York YIMBY LLC Local residents are calling for plans to make North Fair Oaks Avenue safer from Washington Boulevard north to the City’s border “Please implement safety measures in my neighborhood,” said T.J Knight in correspondence to the Planning Commission “I have lived 1/4 mile from North Fair Oaks for 25 years during which time this street has not been safe People have died and will continue to die on North Fair Oaks due to motor vehicle traffic until your committee takes decisive action to improve safety.” The Planning Commission held a study session on Wednesday to review and discuss the preliminary update to the Fair Oaks Orange Grove (FOOG) Specific Plan covers key areas of Fair Oaks Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard including the intersection of Fair Oaks Avenue and Montana Street as well as Robinson Park and several important community assets The update is part of Pasadena’s ongoing “Our Pasadena — Putting the Plan in Motion” program which aims to establish clear regulations and standards across the city’s eight planning areas The Our Pasadena initiative has already led to the adoption of five other specific plans and Lamanda Park specific plans since its inception in 2018 North Lake Avenue is currently being revised and East Pasadena will be addressed by the end of the year and community leaders that came together in 2010 to address unmet and critical public health needs in the region The North Fair Oaks Avenue corridor in Northwest Pasadena is dangerous for people to navigate by foot The group claims that in a six month period 65 car crashes occurred along the corridor and seven community members have been killed on North Fair Oaks Avenue since 2021 The group did not specify when the 65 accidents occurred “For the betterment of our community this project must address the safety issues concerning pedestrians and other local businesses that may be negatively impacted,” said Linh Tran The FOOG area is characterized by a mix of residential It is also known for its high bus ridership and proximity to several parks and community centers The specific plan update envisions a pedestrian-oriented environment that fosters a mix of housing The plan divides the area into four subzones: La Pintoresca each with distinct characteristics and development goals Key themes from community input include a desire for lower-scale development along Fair Oaks Avenue The updated plan also emphasizes enhancing Robinson Park as a recreational hub and promoting economic development through light industrial and creative office spaces including the Arroyo Group and landscape architecture students from CalPoly Pomona have contributed vision plans that propose increasing housing density prioritizing green spaces and tree canopy improvements “Fair Oaks is frightening to bike on and not particularly fun to walk on either making the street more sane would allow me to bike there and feel more comfortable taking Pasadena transit buses,” said Andrew Cobb City staff anticipate presenting a draft proposal for review this summer More » The ‘Humming-Byrd’ House: A Mid-Century Storybook Ranch Surrounded by Nature Pasadena Now has been published daily since April 2004 and is among the very oldest continuously operated community news websites in the U.S Pasadena Now strives to publish a full spectrum of news and information articles in service to the entire community The publication will remain free to readers and will not erect paywalls Copyright © 2025. Pasadena Now | Terms of - Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds offer another way to get Pasadena Now content Subscribe to our feeds to get the latest headlines summaries and links back to full articles – formatted for your favorite feed reader and updated throughout the day Fair Oaks Avenue was once a thriving “Black Main Street,” but today it has become divested because of city policies Fair Oaks was downzoned from 48 to 16 units per acre to prevent more nursing homes This policy stifled development and contributed to the decline of this neighborhood That’s why it is important that the Planning Commission approve a Specific Plan that will restore this neglected area of our city Making Housing and Community Happen (MHCH) has worked with The Arroyo Group the prestigious urban planning firm that designed Old Pasadena and the Playhouse District to create a Vision Plan with and for the community that reflects what residents want When you stand at the intersection of North Fair Oaks and Montana there are few trees and little to attract the eye Taco Bell/KFC on the NE corner and the Boys and Girls Club on the SE corner This unattractive intersection is the first thing you see as you cross from Altadena to Pasadena We’d love to see a gateway element that says something like “You are entering Pasadena and the historic ‘Black Main Street,’ the site of the annual Black History Parade.” This intersection could be beautified with bulb outs (to slow traffic)  This would help create a sense of place and identity for this community and could attract locally owned businesses such as a coffee shop and ice cream parlor To help revitalize this area with and for the community Fair Oaks Empowerment Initiative was started in 2015 under the auspices of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance the oldest association of Black pastors in the greater Pasadena area which is now part of Making Housing Community Happen formed a team to organize the Northwest Jobfest that attracted over 500 residents and surveyed the community Over the last ten years we’ve conducted multiple surveys and public art identifying this area’s historic legacy significant changes need to be made to the proposed Specific Plan which calls for keeping zoning mostly the same This low density has led to seven lots north of Washington being vacant for decades because it isn’t financially feasible to build on them and won’t be developed unless they are restored to 48 units per acre The city’s plan calls for 550 additional residential units to be built north of Washington in the next decade We support this goal since 20% of these units would likely be set aside as affordable if developers build more than 10 units and decide to build inclusionary units on site The city also has a policy that 20% of affordable units are prioritized for people displaced from Pasadena in the last decade Some of the churches have land that could be used for affordable housing thanks to SB 4 but are unable to do so unless their property is upzoned 48 units per acre the city’s recommended low density zoning will not lead to sorely needed affordable housing being built Safety is another big issue for residents that isn’t addressed in the city’s proposed Specific Plan The Pintoresca Park and Library and the Boys and Girls Club are located in this part of the city with children and families coming and going constantly Elderly and disabled people also reside here There were over 65 accidents within six months in 2023 there have been seven traffic-related deaths in this area the highest number of any place in our city That’s why we are proposing a complete street redesign changing two lanes each way into one lane each way with a center turn lane The community wants to make this street pedestrian-friendly and walkable so that people feel safe and businesses can flourish This is so urgent we want to see dates and deadlines in the Specific Plan especially art commemorating the history of the African American community to design a mural honoring people of color from the area Jason came up with an intriguing design: an African American quilt depicting prominent places and people of color  When the mural was unveiled at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov 23 including Councilmembers Justin Jones and Tyron Hampton as well as many others who shared fond memories of those depicted on the mural Residents would like to see more public art like this in the Specific Plan Residents want locally owned businesses so we are proposing incentives such as a small business investors fund for what the community wants: retail Given the many years of discrimination that people of color have experienced we recommend that those who have relationships with the history of N Fair Oaks should have extra points on the application Fair Oaks will remain as it is now—disinvested Our Vision Plan has the support of the Northwest Commission the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (Pasadenans Organizing for Progress) and the churches on N A new mixed-use development project that combines historic preservation with modern construction will be discussed at a meeting of the Pasadena Design Commission on Tuesday The project at 130-140 North Fair Oaks Avenue in Council District 3 would create a seven-story building featuring commercial space residential units and integrated parking in the Old Pasadena Historic District The proposal includes preserving portions of a century-old building while constructing new residential spaces Planning officials have recommended approval of the Consolidated Design Review application with specific conditions related to construction and preservation methods the development would include approximately 2,300 square feet of commercial space and 38 residential units Eight of these units would be designated for Moderate Income households allowing the developer to receive concessions on building height and floor area ratio requirements The historic preservation component focuses on the 1918 building at 130 N which is a contributing structure to the Old Pasadena Historic District The project would preserve the single-story front volume and street-facing wall of the two-story volume while demolishing the rear portion a non-historic building would be demolished to make way for new construction The seven-story building would feature a two-story parking garage positioned behind the preserved historic portion of the adjacent structure Design elements for the new construction include traditional vernacular masonry styling with brick Plans also include a mid-level rooftop terrace garden above the parking structure and an additional terrace on the seventh floor The Department of Planning and Community Development is recommending approval of the application subject to conditions to be reviewed and approved prior to building permit issuance The Planning Department’s conditions address construction details These conditions cover features such as brick window headers and restoration of the historic building’s façade The affordable housing component allows for an increase in maximum floor area ratio from 2.5 to 2.53 and an increase in maximum building height from 63 feet to 75 feet The project qualifies for a Class 32 Categorical Exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act as an infill development project The Planning Department said the development would contribute to urban revitalization in Pasadena’s Central District while preserving historic architectural elements and adding residential units to support the neighborhood Tuesday’s meeting of the Design Commission will be held in the City Council Chamber at City Hall starting at 6:30 p.m After a bit of a struggle to cut it using garden shears a simple pair of scissors helped part the ribbon on the new mural at the southwest corner of North Fair Oaks and Montana Avenue in Northwest Pasadena before nearly a hundred local residents on Saturday The mural by artist Jason Timothy Smith—which was commissioned by the North Fair Oaks Empowerment Initiative—depicts the creation of an African American quilt and highlights a number of notables from the neighborhood once a thriving African-American “Main Street.” According to a statement from the organization the mural is part of an effort to “Beautify Among those pictured on the quilt are Jackie and Mack Robinson science fiction author Octavia Butler; Edna Griffin a blind prize fighter/trainer; Loretta Thompson-Glickman Pasadena’s first Black woman Mayor; the Woods-Valentine mortuary which is Pasadena’s oldest Black-owned business) and Doug Kosobayshi “When I was researching this mural,” said Smith “I talked to the neighbors and I asked for their stories They shared with me how North Fair Oaks and Northwest Pasadena were created.” According to local activist Jill Shook of Making Housing Happen the mural is part of a larger effort to improve the community because we ask not.’ So we asked the community members and business owners what they would like to see in the neighborhood Our first win was a $268,000 traffic signal Councilmember Tyron Hampton helped smooth out sidewalks in the neighborhood all of which is part of a neighborhood vision plan that Making Housing Happen is currently promoting “And now we have this beautiful mural,” she said “We learned how to ask for what we wanted.” Each “panel” of the quilt also features a QR code so that visitors to the mural can find the story of that person or business online who has completed six indoor and outdoor murals and has created and exhibited art in Louisiana “His artistic journey spans over 25 years marked by a commitment to collaborating with community groups and nonprofits to express their sense of community and message through aesthetic means,” according to a statement from the Initiative Redwood City – After years of planning, construction is now under way on a 179-unit affordable housing project known as Middlefield Junction in North Fair Oaks the unincorporated neighborhood south of Redwood City.  “This project addresses the most critical issue facing San Mateo County by providing quality new homes that are affordable,” said San Mateo County Supervisor Warren Slocum, whose District 4 includes North Fair Oaks “Here we have a new development that is creating jobs during construction and in the long-term will create affordable homes that are close by many small family-owned shops and restaurants that will also benefit.” Located at 2700 Middlefield Road on a County-owned vacant parcel behind the County’s Fair Oaks Health Center the project consists of new apartments from one to three bedrooms a child care center and community open space The site was targeted for housing and neighborhood-serving amenities through an extensive planning process All the apartments will be reserved for households earning between 15 percent and 80 percent of the area median income Twenty apartments will be set aside for people experiencing homelessness and receiving care management and supportive services from San Mateo County Health Once complete, the Middlefield Junction project will transform a lot that was once home to a recycling facility and help to fulfill a plan years in the making. The project is the result of a partnership among the County, nonprofit developer Mercy Housing California, the state and private investors in a region starved for affordable housing “We’ve seen firsthand the inspiring outcomes that families can achieve when affordable housing and high-quality childcare centers are located under the same roof,” said Doug Shoemaker “Mercy Housing is proud to bring this 179-home community to North Fair Oaks and we look forward to the day we can welcome hundreds of young people and their families to their new home at Middlefield Junction,” Shoemaker said The total cost of $155 million is being funded in part by $78 million from the recently created California Housing Accelerator Fund managed by the State of California’s Department of Housing and Community Development This is the first project in the County to be financed by the Accelerator Fund The project is also being financed with $30.5 million in loans from the County and Housing Authority of San Mateo County, nearly $13 million from the American Rescue Plan Act and $6.78 million from the Measure K half-cent sales tax which provides local funds for local needs Additional funding comes from state grants and private investment Information on how to apply to live at Middlefield Junction will be posted at a later date on the San Mateo County Housing Portal website A pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle in Sunnyvale on Saturday evening According to the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety the fatal collision occurred around 6:00 p.m Responding officers and fire personnel found the male pedestrian suffering from major injuries Authorities have not yet released the victim’s identity, pending formal identification and notification of next of kin by the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators It remains unclear if speed or impairment played a role in the crash Anyone with information about the collision is encouraged to call 408-730-7110 California guarantees equal rights for all road users, especially the most vulnerable, including pedestrians. Pedestrian accident lawyers from our firm can help you get full compensation if you were hurt in a pedestrian accident or lost a loved one During our free initial consultation, the details and strength of your case will be thoroughly reviewed. In addition to outlining your options, our Santa Clara County accident law firm will consider all relevant elements that may have an impact on your claim and possible settlement You can rely on the pedestrian accident attorneys at Arash Law to provide legal advice about your insurance claim or We have collected over $750 million for clients in California making us one of the state’s largest and most reputable personal injury litigation firms Try to remain calm after a pedestrian collision if you are still able to do so Doing so will allow you to take the following steps and protect your health and rights to compensation: I HAD AN ACCIDENT According to a recent report California highways rank third in the US for having the most pedestrian fatalities In 2022, there were 532 pedestrian fatalities and injuries in Santa Clara County, according to the Office of Traffic Safety Seventy-four were 65 years of age or older The horrific outcomes of pedestrian accidents are demonstrated by these figures If you are injured in a pedestrian accident in California get in touch with our attorneys right away Six people were injured following a five-vehicle crash on the northbound 15 Freeway near Highway 138 in the Cajon Pass A bicyclist sustained serious injuries after being hit by a vehicle in Sacramento on Saturday evening According to the Sacramento Police Department and another woman and two children sustained injuries following a two-vehicle head-on crash in El Dorado Hills A motorcyclist was killed following a suspected DUI crash in Merced on Saturday afternoon Two young men were killed following a suspected DUI crash in Fresno on Friday night and two others sustained non-life-threatening injuries following a multi-vehicle collision in the Westlake community of Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon California’s Powerhouse Accident Lawyers With a consecutively proven track record Disclaimer: Not every one of our firm’s attorneys has received the recognitions stated here Visit the attorneys’ specific profile page under the ‘Our Firm’ tab for specific attorney recognitions (888) 488-1391 Do I Have A Case? 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Hill Ave. #201Pasadena, CA 9110624hr Local Line: (626) 723-3933Available by appointment only This website is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal advice Please do not act or refrain from acting based on anything you read on this site Using this site or communicating with the law offices of arash khorsandi through this site does not form an attorney/Client relationship Copyright © 2025 The Law Office of Arash Khorsandi Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Accessibility | Careers WE’VE RECOVERED OVER $750 MILLION FOR OUR CLIENTS the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office and partners will be hosting a series of anonymous fireworks buyback events across San Mateo County The program aims to enhance community safety by encouraging residents to turn in fireworks which are illegal in all of San Mateo County with the exception of the cities of Pacifica and San Bruno In 2023, under the leadership of Sheriff Christina Corpus, the Sheriff’s Office hosted its first fireworks buyback event in North Fair Oaks as a pilot program The buyback was a resounding success with approximately 400 pounds of illegal fireworks and explosives collected the Sheriff’s Office saw a reduction in the calls for service on the Fourth of July  in North Fair Oaks the program is expanding to include locations on the coast and in North County the Sheriff’s Office is increasing the cash reward for turning in fireworks Those who turn in fireworks can now receive up $200 cash with no questions asked our fireworks buyback program made a significant impact leading to a greater sense of safety and well-being for our North Fair Oaks community Thanks to support from President Slocum and the entire San Mateo County Board of Supervisors I’m proud to announce that this year we’re expanding this very important program to our North County and Coastside communities,” said Sheriff Corpus “By attending only sanctioned fireworks shows we can celebrate responsibly and ensure everyone has a safe July 4 holiday.” Here are the dates for the three fireworks buyback events: This program is supported by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors with Measure K funding these events would not be possible without the following partner agencies: Brisbane Police Department Coastside Fire Protection District/CAL FIRE South San Francisco Fire Department and South San Francisco Police Department The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office has a zero tolerance approach to addressing illegal fireworks. To read the County’s fireworks ordinance, which was bolstered in 2023 and includes increased penalties for violators, click here A nurse was hospitalized Sunday night after being attacked by a patient wielding a piece of jagged wood at a mental health care facility in the 1500 block of North Fair Oaks Avenue according to Pasadena Police Lieutenant Matt Campeau identified as a 45-year-old woman from Rosemead sustained a one-inch laceration to the back of her head and was transported to a local hospital in stable condition allegedly attacked the nurse as she attempted to administer medication Curry reportedly struck her several times on the head with his hands and a piece of wood with a jagged edge Curry fled immediately after the assault but was apprehended by responding officers about two blocks away from the facility Officers reportedly recovered the wooden weapon used in the attack as evidence Curry was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and booked into the Pasadena Jail Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the Pasadena Police at (626) 744-4241 or report information anonymously by contacting “Crime Stoppers” at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) via your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile App on Google Play or the Apple App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org KQED Live EventsPRX Podcast Garage EventsEvents Around the Bay AreaMember Benefits with KQED LiveVideos from KQED LiveWatch recordings of recent KQED Live events FeaturedThat's My WordAn ongoing exploration of Bay Area hip-hop history See Senior Director of TV Programming Meredith Speight’s recommendations from this month’s KQED 9 Watch recordings of recent KQED Live events Support KQED by using your donor-advised fund to make a charitable gift A fire burns at a six-story building under construction in Redwood City on June 3 2024. (KGO via AP)This story was updated at 1:10 p.m Tuesday with additional information on a second building that was part of the complex A massive fire destroyed an affordable housing building under construction near Redwood City on Monday forcing neighbors to evacuate and sending a thick plume of smoke into the air The eight-alarm fire on the 2700 block of Middlefield Road in North Fair Oaks prompted San Mateo County sheriff’s officials to order residents on nearby Pacific, Calvin and Dumbarton avenues to leave. A temporary evacuation site was set up at the Veterans Memorial Senior Center at 1455 Madison Ave The Bay Area Air Quality Management District also issued an air quality advisory due to the smoke from the fire advising people living and working near the fire and down the peninsula to try to avoid exposure by staying indoors and closing windows one of two structures that make up a 179-unit affordable housing project known as Middlefield Junction The building that burned was planned to include 104 apartments while an adjacent 75-unit building under construction was not significantly damaged Menlo Park Fire District Chief Mark Lorenzen said he was releasing crews after it was fully controlled and moving the operation into “mop up” mode dousing the structure with water to prevent any flare-ups The fire was able to tear through the structure quickly because it didn’t yet have sprinkler systems or other fire protection features installed and there were windy conditions in the area it was just like kindling,” Lorenzen said “There being almost no windows…the winds from the north were just pushing right in and blowing it straight through the structure.” Construction workers evacuated the building and while there were some minor spots of damage to neighboring buildings or fences Lorenzen said everyone in the area appears to be safe He estimated about 130 firefighters responded to this fire with help from about every fire agency in San Mateo County and some additional help from Santa Clara County fire agencies as well A total of 26 engines and seven ladder trucks were called in throughout the incident The fire was acting similar to a wildland fire due to the wind and the materials that were burning requiring extra firefighting resources to prevent the spread of the fire “They were putting in insulation and the insulation was catching fire getting lofted up by the thermal columns and launching into the neighborhood There were burning embers dropping everywhere from the sky Caltrain reported delays in the area with trains being held at the Redwood City and Menlo Park stations The apartments being built at Middlefield Junction were planned to be reserved for people earning incomes considered extremely low very low and low on the pricey San Francisco peninsula According to a previous county release about the project 20 apartments were to be set aside for people experiencing homelessness and receiving care management and supportive services from San Mateo County Health Middlefield Junction was borne out of a partnership between the county nonprofit developer Mercy Housing California as well as the state and private investors It was estimated to cost $155 million in total Lorenzen said the wooden framing of all the upper floors is destroyed though he said it appeared the concrete foundation and underground parking garage area were not damaged To learn more about how we use your information, please read our privacy policy. Some addresses are “Menlo Park.” Some “Redwood City.” It’s neither As an unincorporated area it’s actually “San Mateo County.” With a population larger than some San Mateo County cities the largest proportion of North Fair Oaks residents share the semi-tragic history of Mexican immigrants first invited to this country is a roughly rectangular area south of Woodside Road bounded by Bay Road on the east El Camino Real on the west and Atherton town limits on the south It omits Woodside Central shopping center’s anchor Target store under color of protecting minimum one-acre residential lot sizes specifically excluded the area when it incorporated in 1923 drawing up incorporation papers four years later bisected by two railroads and lacking any tax base has never been incorporated as a city with its own government nor has it been annexed to any of the neighboring cities This makes it the responsibility of the County of San Mateo and the five members of the Board of Supervisors Lack of city government services also has fostered and exacerbated the contrasts between NFO and the cities that surround it This story appeared in the May edition of Climate Magazine. Of all the factors that helped make it what it is Faced with a shortage of workers after World War II and Mexico negotiated agreements to bring Mexican braceros primarily to do farm work at 30 cents an hour Signed federal contracts entitled braceros to work passes issued by the federal Department of Justice Controversy arose over Mexican workers who entered the country illegally and worked alongside braceros which today is at the forefront of anti-immigrant activism that passed a law allowing employers to employ both legal and illegal immigrants the labor shortage being as bad as it was and a 30-cent-per-hour wage being so attractive to employers it became de facto policy and thousands of undocumented workers were allowed to pass the program brought more than 4 million Mexicans as contract labor Library of Congress archives characterizes it “the program resulted in an influx of undocumented and documented laborers (and) 22 years of cheap labor from Mexico.” “Cheap labor” was a post-war blessing For three-quarters of a century NFO has thrived And it has suffered by the unique challenges of the complicated aftermath of official and unofficial immigration challenges as live today as they were when the Bracero program ended in 1964 leaving his wife and children back in Aguililla eight months a year while he worked the vegetable fields of Salinas following the crops to Mountain View’s pear orchards He found permanent work serving patients’ meals at Stanford Hospital by day and washing dishes at the Pioneer Hotel in Woodside by night He was undocumented and subject to periodic border patrol deportation roundups; at least twice he was sent back to Mexico his wife told him to choose between a divorce in Aguililla and a family in America for opportunity not available in Aguililla — a theme repeated millions of times by multi-millions of documented and undocumented Mexican and Central American immigrants up to the present — he obtained sponsorship from his brother Abel; and Bustos began the family move to North Fair Oaks a move that required his wife and children to move to Mexico City to pursue visas The community already was the center of Aguilillan immigration to work for wages very high by Aguilillan scale At one point it was said that Aguillians in North Fair Oaks outnumbered the 5,000 back in Aguililla was located the S&W Foods vegetable cannery was a teenager when he came up with his mother and siblings to join his father in NFO “It’s a compact little town,” he said Anthony’s — “in the middle of town which is typical because religion was central … It was cobblestone streets red-tiled roofs made of adobe  …granted there were no sidewalks and it got a little muddy Periodic deportation sweeps by border patrol agents spoiled the idyll restaurants and construction sites to round up dozens of immigrants at a time periodic immigration raids swept across the country deporting workers who overstayed the end of the program — between 4.6 and 5 million were sent back to Mexico most recently Immigration and Customs Enforcement but the fear of deportation never abates in North Fair Oaks in the past with active participation of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office the agency with police responsibility in NFO Mass deportations happened as recently as 2008 when sweeps plucked off the streets seven NFO residents from five families With prodding from the community and the elected board of supervisors the county has halted its participation in this arrangement but it was only six months ago that Sheriff Carlos Bolanos stopped referring inmates in jail for other offenses to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation Immigration patterns in NFO have created a situation where those here legally commonly are related to those waiting for years to be legally processed or do not intend to apply for legal status: the undocumented One deportation always magnifies its impact putting them in a financial hole from which they may never emerge the disappearance of a breadwinner means new legal expenses Popular biases about deportees — they’re all criminals who deserve no fair treatment because they are of no social benefit — rarely fit with the truth a trustee of the Redwood City School District and spouse of San Mateo County Supervisor Warren Slocum Her mother was taken out of their Redwood City home when she was a child leaving her and her five siblings to fend for themselves alone until her father returned Hers is a tale of the Horatio Alger spirit — perseverance integrity and hard work — easily found in NFO She got a college education at Menlo College has worked as librarian at North Fair Oaks’ public library for 35 years and continues to serve the local schools after two decades as a school board trustee He attended Cañada College after Sequoia High Proposition 13 property tax limitations passed while he worked on his doctoral dissertation in ethnic studies Judging that public education would be a bad career choice at that moment he left the teaching track to take a job in radio in San Francisco then built the company into a $470 million asset acquired by Entravision With the proceeds he established Bustos Media which today operates 25 radio stations in Oregon He validates the truth of the “immigrant spirit,” the spirit of striving “The immigrant work ethic comes from such struggles for survival,” he said the time and the moment and makes the best of it.” He does not condemn the disparity in wealth between NFO and places like Atherton “It’s a symbiotic relationship,” he said “You could say it’s exploitation The workers may be underpaid by American standards but for these people it’s much more than it was before That’s when they start to climb the ladder.” who went from 16-hour days washing dishes to owner of a meat market The fruits of his labors are the three markets of the Chavéz Supermarkets chain but success is defined “in spite of,” and the dark cloud that always hovers at the edges of NFO always threatening to blot the sun and cast a shadow That fear is a major obstacle to establishing an organized The historical record contains no legitimate or even seriously-proposed idea of North Fair Oaks either becoming a city or getting city services by annexing The reticence of the residents is one reason and the voting history of renters of any economic status is problematic — more than half its residential properties are rentals A quarter of the population does not speak English Along with the cost of the annexation process itself the annexing city would have to shoulder the burden of generations of neglect of storm drains The county’s Local Agency Formation Commission has designated Redwood City as North Fair Oaks’ annexing city but Redwood City has never undertaken the task and shows little sign that it will the city has channeled millions in funds and programs to the neighborhood where it locates a branch of the city library and staffs the North Fair Oaks Community Center Francis Center’s low- to extremely-low income housing programs and its Siena Center youth center that despite the impression North Fair Oaks is a homogeneous bloc of Latinos Down Middlefield toward Atherton and Menlo Park are “the avenues,” tree-lined streets of single-family homes and a growing number of scrapers and mansions all contributing to the dismay of long-time residents In the central area are predominantly Latino families living in multi-unit dwellings as well as single-family homes on small lots Then there is the Middlefield commercial strip nonprofits and social welfare organizations Largely due to Slocum’s initiatives as the supervisor with responsibility for the district the county is cleaning up and reconfiguring Middlefield Road undergrounding utilities and fixing storm drainage and the Bayfront Canal But North Fair Oaks still faces a future as just NFO It needs civic services to improve — some would say gentrify —but it appears it will have to gentrify itself first a tall order for a place founded by exclusion and surviving as the source of cheap labor Go back far enough and the county’s wealthiest enclave both branches of a family tree rooted in the South American port of Valparaiso the man responsible for the name “Fair Oaks,” were acquaintances in Valparaiso before the 1849 Gold Rush Atherton as a prominent merchant and provisioner of goods from the east that were traded by sailing ships Atherton’s connection to Chile was deep: He named the 611 acres he bought mid-Peninsula after retiring to San Francisco “Valparaiso Park,” a name that survives as Valparaiso Avenue He built the family summer home at what now is the Menlo Circus Club in 1860 Six years later he sold 20 acres to Commodore Watkins Watkins dubbed his rancho “Fair Oaks.” The new Southern Pacific Railroad ran along the northeast edge of Watkins’ property and a flag stop station developed there where the mail dropped and a passenger could flag a train to board For 50 years the area developed slowly into second homes for wealthy “summer people” from San Francisco like San Francisco Mayor Thomas Selby of the Selby Smelting Co. The 1906 earthquake and fire changed everything Along the railroad land speculators carved out small subdivisions and hawked $5 and $25 lots to earthquake refugees Between 1906 and 1919 “Fair Oaks” disappeared as a community name and “North Fair Oaks” appeared Watkins’ Fair Oaks flag stop had gotten busy enough to cause confusion with the existing Fair Oaks station near Sacramento The railroad ordered a name change and locals honored the founder by officially christening the Atherton station in the same period an enterprising real estate salesman set up his own train station on property abutting the railroad and named the station “North Fair Oaks.” By 1919 North Fair Oaks was recorded as a place as it appeared on a subdivision of 27 lots at Marsh and Middlefield filed by Edward Fitzpatrick vegetable farmers and laborers who tended the Atherton estates lived in North Fair Oaks and went to Menlo Park for mail It was a beneficial arrangement for Atherton which benefited from neither and consequently suffered many decades of government neglect Over a century the dichotomy has persisted and been amplified the community by turns receiving official support and rejection depending on the vagaries of county budgets and occasionally the personal whims or competing obligations of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Parts of Middlefield Road  south of Woodside Road are in Redwood City Parts of Marsh Road are in North Fair Oaks One side of El Camino Real is North Fair Oaks The only North Fair Oaks-oriented shopping center is in Redwood City Have something newsworthy you want to share or a story we should cover? Send to tips@climaterwc.com The County is investing nearly $1.5 million to support entrepreneurs and job seekers in the North Fair Oaks area The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously today to use the funds to create the North Fair Oaks Economic Advancement Center households and small businesses in North Fair Oaks Both the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center and JobTrain will begin their work at Casa Circulo in North Fair Oaks until a leased location is identified for the North Fair Oaks Economic Advancement Center “This will be an important step to bring families and individuals closer to economic independence giving them the right tools and training for advancement” said Supervisor Warren Slocum who represents that 4th District that includes North Fair Oaks “We know there is much talent and treasure within our vulnerable communities they too can become enterprising small businesses here or gain employment at some of our local businesses It is also about equity – and giving others opportunities.” The County notes that the investment “builds upon work underway for several years to build entrepreneurship for residents in the North Fair Oaks area and to help job seekers gain valuable skills.” A new affordable housing development for seniors who have previously experienced homelessness is set to open its doors in Pasadena next week offering a lifeline to some of the area’s most vulnerable residents a 69-unit permanent supportive housing community will celebrate its grand opening on Wednesday targets extremely low-income seniors in an area known for its high housing costs the complex consists of three three-story buildings It includes 69 one-bedroom apartments and a two-bedroom manager’s unit along with 2,200 square feet of commercial space at the intersection of Fair Oaks and Orange Grove Boulevard a leading nonprofit affordable housing developer and manager on the West Coast Pasadena-based homeless advocacy organization and service provider Union Station Homeless Services will offer intensive case management services to residents The development boasts environmentally friendly features earning it an Affordable Multifamily GreenPoint Rated Platinum certification Heritage Square South is adjacent to Heritage Square another BRIDGE Housing development opened in 2016 with 70 affordable apartments for low-income seniors The proximity of the two projects creates a significant cluster of affordable housing in the area The grand opening ceremony will feature several prominent speakers Interim CEO of Union Station Homeless Services will share his perspective during the event The development team includes KTGY Architects and R.D who served as the architect and general contractor The aftermath of the fire that destroyed part of an affordable housing project under construction at 2700 block of Middlefield Road in North Fair Oaks. (Courtesy of San Mateo County Sheriff's Office)A day after a fire ripped through an affordable housing building under construction near Redwood City “It’s just a devastating loss in terms of affordable units,” said San Mateo County Board of Supervisors President Warren Slocum who represents the district where the Middlefield Junction complex is located “We’re all committed to rebuilding We’re not just going to walk away from it.” San Mateo County needs to build more than 1,200 housing units for low- and very-low-income families by 2031 to meet the expected demand and the damaged complex was among the largest in the county’s development pipeline The 179-unit project would house 177 low-income families One building with 104 units was burned down to its concrete foundation while a neighboring 75-unit building that includes a planned child care center was not damaged The cause of the fire is still under investigation Slocum said conversations about rebuilding are already underway with the developer Sternberg said Mercy is committed to seeing the project through “As soon as it is safe for our teams we will return to work at the Middlefield Junction site to assess the damage and make a plan to move forward with construction,” she said A statement posted on the website of the project contractor said the company is dedicated to completing the development and called the fire “the worst disaster in our company’s 92-year history.” Slocum expects insurance to cover much of the cost of rebuilding and said the county will likely seek state and federal funds to make up the difference director of San Mateo County’s Housing Department said the project was a decade in the making including rezoning the site with local community councils and working with the developer to secure both public and private investments Funding for the $155 million development includes loans from the county It’s being built on a 3.2-acre plot of land the county purchased about 10 years ago for housing In addition to stitching together a patchwork of funding sources Hodges said finding land for affordable housing is a huge challenge in pricey San Mateo County The North Fair Oaks location was a good fit because of its proximity to a county health clinic and community center “It’s a community that’s experienced quite a bit of displacement and price pressure.” The apartments being built at Middlefield Junction would be reserved for people earning incomes considered extremely low Twenty of the apartments would be set aside for people experiencing homelessness and receiving care management and supportive services from San Mateo County Health San Mateo County has helped finance or support 4,752 affordable housing units across 65 projects including the 179 from Middlefield Junction “To have this happen and set such a big portion of the pipeline back it’s pretty devastating,” Hodges said “There certainly will be insurance claims for this to try and recoup some money so that we can get the project restarted is anybody’s guess at this point.” KQED South Bay Digital Editor Joseph Geha contributed to this report 2024 at 5:46 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}San Mateo County deputies began evacuating people from nearby buildings after a fire broke out at an apartment complex under construction in North Fair Oaks (San Mateo County Sheriff's Office)REDWOOD CITY CA — Peninsula first responders contained a large fire burning Monday in North Fair Oaks and kept flames from spreading to nearby structures according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office Fire crews rushed to the scene on Middlefield Road after the blaze ignited on the fifth floor of an apartment building under construction Firefighters battled gusty winds into the afternoon as the multi-agency response was upgraded to eight alarms Footage published by NBC Bay Area showed visible flames and dense smoke billowing from a large development The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office urged neighbors living near the scene on Pacific and Calvin avenues to evacuate immediately and asked all others to avoid the area A few minutes later, the sheriff's office expanded the evacuation zone to include a stretch of Dumbarton Avenue from the train tracks to Middlefield Road the sheriff's office said a temporary evacuation site would be operating at Veterans Memorial Senior Center The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued an air quality advisory warning of localized smoke impacts from the fire which the agency could affect neighbors in Redwood City Officials confirmed the fire was contained by 3 p.m. and the sheriff's office said most evacuated households would be able to return home Monday afternoon Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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TrendingCommercialSan FranciscoANovin acquires affordable housing project in North Fair OaksApproved project targets quarter of 78 units for adults with developmental disabilities Novin Development which targets large mixed-income projects on vacant or underutilized parcels 100 percent affordable residential development in North Fair Oaks that fits the bill — and could eventually house adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities Walnut Creek-based Novin paid $3.9 million to purchase a half-acre surface parking lot at 3051 Edison Way in North Fair Oaks an unincorporated part of San Mateo County totaling nearly 800 acres and bounded by Redwood City A construction company owned by Ronald Grove leases the property to store construction materials related vehicles and employee parking for work at various sites in the area The lease will continue until Novin breaks ground on the project approved for the site 78-unit building affordable to those making between 20 and 100 percent of the area median income company President Iman Novin said in an interview That means the project would be affordable to single-person households making between $23,000 and $116,200 a year according to California Department of Housing and Community Development data Up to half of the project’s units would serve workforce residents Novin said; that could make them a potential draw to employees at Meta’s Menlo Park headquarters less than four miles away Novin is essentially taking over the project from Emerald Bay Homes a Palo Alto-based developer that agreed to purchase the site from Grove in September 2021 Emerald filed project plans in March and received approval from San Mateo County three months later The company invoked SB 35 when submitting its proposal a state law that streamlines the approval process for 100 percent affordable housing projects in jurisdictions out of compliance with their state-mandated housing production goals helping to explain the relatively short review period It would ultimately fall out of contract with Grove; neither responded to requests for comment it’s considering a few changes to Emerald’s plans the project consists of 26 studio apartments 51 one-bedrooms and one two-bedroom manager’s unit Yet those with special needs prefer one- and two-bedroom units over studios Emerald’s proposal targeted setting aside a quarter of the project’s 78 units as permanent supportive housing for adults with developmental disabilities according to San Mateo County’s online permit portal SIGN UPAssuming Novin has the same or a similar goal for its project it’s likely that the company will file revised plans calling for more one- and two-bedroom units and fewer studios than before The developer expects to know by this time next year whether it will have all of the project’s funding in place it would break ground six months after finalizing the development’s capital stack Construction would take about two years using the conventional but Iman Novin said using a modular technique could cut the construction timeline almost in half He and his eponymous company are exploring whether to use the latter approach for the project a change that would be part of its revisions to Emerald’s approved plans the developer is working on assembling the development’s capital stack and bringing on a number of other potential project partners commitments from state sources and the California Housing and Community Development Department Novin has already received nearly $5.4 million in loans to finance the acquisition of the Edison Way site and pre-development costs mostly supplied by Century Housing Corporation with the rest from the Golden State Acquisition Fund the developer has partnered with affordable housing co-developer Sunflower Hill to provide services to the project’s developmentally disabled residents which said it’s confident it will be able to secure state funding for its North Fair Oaks project pegged per-unit construction costs at more than $500,000 a unit It declined to provide a total cost estimate citing potential future changes to the project’s entitlements Get San José Spotlight headlines delivered to your inbox interconnected neighborhoods could come up short with advocates worried that vital retail services will be slashed City officials have identified seven aging shopping centers with a variety of grocery stores and restaurants throughout the city that are considered underutilized is to redevelop them for mixed-use housing and retail that could include grocery stores Out of the seven village centers, the city is reviewing two proposals for North Sunnyvale — one for the Lakewood Shopping Center and the other for Fair Oaks Plaza. North Sunnyvale is a historically underserved and officials and advocates worry the projects won’t include enough retail space to support the surrounding residents Sunnyvale spokesperson Jennifer Garnett said city planners are still reviewing the proposals to ensure they conform to development standards they will go to the Planning Commission for approval The 2019 state law Senate Bill 330 limits the city’s ability to deny projects While some advocates want the city to institute objective design standards for the centers the state’s density bonus laws could allow housing developers to skip retail space “The state has done a lot of things to make it really difficult for cities to deny housing applications,” Sunnyvale City Attorney Rebecca Moon said at a recent council meeting “All I can say is we’re looking very hard at all of our options to preserve retail North Sunnyvale resident Peggy Shen Brewster said removing retail could further marginalize area residents and it’s going to become even more so with three less markets,” Brewster told San José Spotlight Not only would the grocery stores be removed the redevelopment would also remove local restaurants in both shopping centers which Brewster said are important community gathering spaces “I don’t want this to be another instance where we couldn’t pull through for North Sunnyvale but we did it for the rest of the community,’” Brewster told San José Spotlight The proposals consist of a series of townhomes location is expected to include 62 townhouses and the 1119 Lawrence Expressway location has plans for 95 townhouses 16 accessory dwelling units and about 36,605 square feet of commercial space two more have already been approved by the city The village centers are zoned for 18 units per square acre which Councilmember Richard Mehlinger said is too low to properly support mixed-use developments He said the city is considering increasing the zoned density to better facilitate retail spaces in the other village centers Mehlinger couldn’t speak on the two proposals because of their quasi-judicial nature but said it’ll be important to consider the proposals with an open mind He added that North Sunnyvale has a history of lacking certain services and spaces for residents to gather such as coffee shops in the parts of his district north of the train tracks “North Sunnyvale has really been underserved by amenities like retail for a very long time and the village center proposal was originally intended to help rectify that,” Mehlinger told San José Spotlight what we’re seeing is we’re seeing a real risk that what retail we do have The city has been making plans to add resources in North Sunnyvale, including a branch library but residents still have to travel extra distances to receive things like pharmaceuticals Brewster said she travels about two miles to get to her pharmacy on El Camino Real frequents a Walmart pharmacy located in Santa Clara a member of advocacy group Livable Sunnyvale said redevelopment of these retail spaces will disrupt some of the area’s only community spaces She pointed out that these aging retail spaces are likely to have cheaper rent so they’re easier for small business owners to afford “It’s not the same retailers that are going to be in the same space It’s not a mom and pop,” Rubino told San José Spotlight all of those restaurants would disappear.” Contact B. Sakura Cannestra at [email protected] or @SakuCannestra on X Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" So the 500 or so new housing across the street wasn’t enough The state aims to please developers with a mentally strained ideology as a related rationalization (that’s irrational) Sunnyvale needs to add more housing units as follows this RNHD/RHNA cycle: added to city’s future housing plans https://abag.ca.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2022-12/Final%20RHNA%20Methodology%20Report%202023-2031_update_11-22.pdf this article is about a concern expressed before with the new housing that is being planned and some of which is coming to the Bay Area like others be it according to new zoning or without city zoning conformance or approval This situation is occurring in most Bay Area cities where housing is a more profitable use of the land than retail and Santa Clara are all losing retail businesses due to State laws that have been designed to enrich developers at the expense of residents so every piece of land doesn’t get used for the most profitable use with the property owner and developer reaping huge financial benefits while the residents suffer from food and retail deserts If there is any upside it’s that the developments will be townhouses and not apartments or condos which is what we are seeing throughout the region 18 units per acre is an appropriate density since high-density housing projects are being abandoned by developers throughout the Bay Area due to the glut of empty properties There is really only one solution to this process of slamming housing into every developable lot in Sunnyvale and that is to get a proposition onto state ballot to repeal the state mandates for housing plans and number of units that communities are obligated to build The developer’s remedy is a terrible idea that just shoves more unwelcome housing into the wrong places and rewards only the developers with legal rights to jam it through… There have been plans for such a ballot measure for several years, see https://ourneighborhoodvoices.com/ It takes a huge amount of money to do signature gathering then you have to run a campaign against opposition with essentially unlimited money─developers one state Assembly member once explained why trying to do ballot measures is such a losing proposition (no pun intended) First you spend several million dollars gathering signatures Then you spend another ten million dollars on a campaign where you are outspent by the opposition 10 to 1 and are likely to lose I could be wrong but as I recall Taj Mahal location was a Mexican supermarket before it became the Taj Mahal Send in the wrecking ball and let the free market do what it does You must be logged in to post a comment San José Spotlight is an award-winning nonprofit newsroom dedicated to fearless journalism that disrupts the status quo holds power to account and paves the way for change We’re changing the face of local journalism by building a community-supported newsroom that ignites civic engagement educates residents and strengthens our democracy 408.206.5327[email protected] Submit a News TipSubscribe to our newsletters San José Spotlight is a project of the San José News Bureau a 501(c)(3) charitable organization | Tax ID: 82-5355128 ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " From its new home in the heart of North Fair Oaks Casa Circulo Cultural (CCC) is now closer to the core community it serves Bolanos cut the ribbon on the new headquarters for CCC The nonprofit organization that provides educational cultural and developmental programs for underserved people in unincorporated areas of San Mateo County which offers an array of bilingual programs such as  technology will now move to expand its community services by sharing its programs with the CARON Community Partnership and the Sheriff’s Activities League “The partnership with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office and Casa Circulo Cultural gives opportunities and provides important programs to the youth who live in the North Fair Oaks community,” said Sheriff Bolanos A large swell of supporters came out to CCC’s Grand Opening July 14 which included brief remarks from Veronica Martinez-Escamez executive director of CCC; Sheriff Bolanos; and Remedios Gomez Arnau performances by Metro Tae Kwon Do and cultural dancers demonstrated some of the programming available at CCC “Our charming new home will bring us closer to all of you “mi casa es su casa” (my house is your home) For more info about CCC, click here, call (650) 362-3844 or email info@casacirculocultural.org 2024 at 4:46 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Firefighters work to extinguish a fire that destroyed an entire building under construction for an affordable housing project in Redwood City (San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office via Bay City News)REDWOOD CITY CA — Despite a devastating fire that ripped through a housing complex under construction near Redwood City on Monday developers are set on completing the project The 8-alarm fire in North Fair Oaks burned in the 2700 block of Middlefield Road and destroyed building B of the planned affordable housing structure which was part of the Middlefield Junction strategic plan for the area "This has been devastating to us and much more traumatic than was expected," said Scott Smith Smith said his company has never experienced this level of disaster in its 92-year history 104 of the total 179 units were "destroyed by fire down to the podium slab," Smith said Construction workers trying to extinguish it at first could not keep up with the growing flames the 130 workers on site and surrounding structures were left unharmed San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus took to social media Tuesday to express her appreciation for first responders "This loss could have been so much worse had it not been for the heroic actions of all of our Sheriff's Office personnel who quickly evacuated nearby residents as well as the firefighters who amazingly prevented the fire from spreading to nearby homes and buildings," she said on X the social media platform formerly known as Twitter The Middlefield Junction project was being built in partnership with Mercy Housing a national nonprofit that establishes low-income affordable housing developments across the country San Mateo County Board of Supervisors President Warren Slocum advocated for the project 10 years ago in the unincorporated community of North Fair Oaks as their district's representative Slocum said he is deeply saddened by the fire as it means that families in need will have to wait longer to move in "Me and the developer are 100% committed to rebuilding for those families that will eventually occupy that affordable housing unit," Slocum said fully intends to continue construction after a complete investigation on the fire's cause rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area Sunrise Senior Living is proposing to construct a 2 and 3 story residential elderly care facility with a 63-space underground parking garage at the corner of El Camino Real and East Selby Lane in North Fair Oaks The facility staff will provide assisted living services for up to 127 elderly residents in 90 residential units (53 studio and 18 semi-private).  The project includes the removal of 14 significant trees and approximately 11,000 cubic yards of excavation Sunrise Senior Living is also requesting the vacation of a 20-foot wide dead-end alley and public sewer easement north of East Selby Lane that adjoins all six parcels.  A driveway leading to a pick up/drop off area and ramp to the garage will be accessible from East Selby Lane.  An access road is proposed from El Camino Real along the northern side of the building to an area for deliveries trash pickup and other maintenance services.  The facility will include various open spaces including a courtyard and garden along the eastern side of the building Five of the six parcels involved in this project all within the Neighborhood-Mixed Use- El Camino Real (NMU-ECR) Zoning District The sixth parcel is within the Two-Family Residential District/S-5 Combining District (R-2/S-5) and developed with a single-family residence This application will require the following: Board of Supervisors meeting The Board of Supervisors will consider the proposed General Plan Land Use Map Amendment and vacation of the alley and sewer easement (vacation process managed by the Real Property Services Division) the Board of Supervisors will adopt the ordinance for the General Plan Land Use Map Amendment and Zoning Map and Text Amendment and the resolution authorizing the vacation of the alley and sewer easement The Planning Commission considered the proposed project and recommended approval (four in favor none opposed) of the proposed General Plan Land Use Map Amendment and Zoning Map and Text Amendment approved the Lot Merger and Grading Permit to be effective upon the Board of Supervisors' adoption of the proposed General Plan Land Use Map Amendment and Zoning Map and Text Amendment and found the proposed vacation of the alley and sewer easement to be in compliance with all applicable General Plan policies The Planning Commission's vacation compliance determination allows the Real Property Services Division to move forward with the applicant's vacation request North Fair Oaks Community Council (NFOCC) reviewed project and recommended approval to Planning Commission 2023 at 10:29 am PTConstruction recently began on a new apartment complex designed to provide new and affordable homes to people in need in San Mateo County (San Mateo County)Construction recently began on a new apartment complex designed to provide new and affordable homes to people in need in San Mateo County CA — Construction recently began on an affordable housing project years in the making which will add 179 units in North Fair Oaks Middlefield Junction is being built on a vacant county-owned lot behind the Fair Oaks Health Center on Middlefield Road The lot where a recycling facility once stood will now serve as a home for hundreds ranging in size from one to three bedrooms along with a child care center and community space Each apartment is reserved for households earning between 15 and 80 percent of the area median income with 20 available to people experiencing homelessness that are receiving care and supportive services from San Mateo County Health "This project addresses the most critical issue facing San Mateo County by providing quality new homes that are affordable "Here we have a new development that is creating jobs during construction and in the long-term will create affordable homes that are close by many small family-owned shops and restaurants that will also benefit." The project is thanks to a partnership between the county and Mercy Housing California with about half covered by the new California Housing Accelerator Fund The county is financing another $30 million American Rescue Plan Act funds will cover $13 million and funds from Measure K will cover close to $7 million As the project nears completion, information will be available online for those interested in applying to live at Middlefield Junction All Projects  Español which involves relocating the existing overhead electrical and communication lines to an underground trench between MacArthur Avenue and Fifth Avenue This part of the project is estimated to take about 18 months to complete with PG&E scheduled to begin work in late January 2025 followed by the telecommunication companies Weather and other factors that affect safe working conditions may change the schedule every effort will be made to minimize impacts to businesses and residents PG&E and the telecommunication companies will be required to notify you prior to any service outages during the conversion process and maintain access to your property.   You may see Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)/contractor crews PG&E/contractor crews may need access to your property to complete their work but will not need to access your home or business All personnel are required to carry valid photo identification and are happy to provide it upon request PG&E/contractor crews will do their best to minimize impacts but you may hear intermittent construction noise A temporary service interruption may be needed for safety PG&E/contractor crews will notify you in advance Utility Undergrounding - Anticipated Schedule of Work *Schedule provided above is subject to change  and coordinated by each telecommunication company For questions, please contact your local PG&E Customer Outreach Specialist, Rachel Lopez at 650-207-5858 during normal business hours or email electricreliability@pge.com Thank you for your patience and cooperation while PG&E/contractors work to enhance electric reliability and safety for you and your neighbors although a new traffic signal system with railroad preemption (connectivity of traffic signals to the railroad signal system and oncoming trains) has been installed in and around the railroad tracks between Pacific Avenue and Hurlingame Avenue these will not be functional until Union Pacific Railroad  (UPRR) replaces the existing railroad signals and utility undergrounding work Subscribe to stay up to date and receive updates by email or text message by clicking below: Sign up to receive notification Project Description Click here to go to the which contains presentations and other reports and documents for this project: Project Documents page