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San Mateo County plans 100-plus affordable apartments, child care center

Original post made on Nov 28, 2018

San Mateo County has begun a process to contract with a developer to build at least 100 affordable housing units, a child care center and some community-serving commercial space at "Middlefield Junction," at 2700 Middlefield Road in North Fair Oaks, between Atherton and Redwood City.

Read the full story here Web Link posted Wednesday, November 28, 2018, 7:57 AM

Comments (7)

Posted by Bill Wall
a resident of Menlo Park: other
on Nov 28, 2018 at 11:19 am

Tax payers get to pay for it again.


Posted by Mary H
a resident of another community
on Nov 28, 2018 at 1:14 pm

BETTER to SPEND tax payer money on providing more AFFORDABLE HOUSING to provide safe shelter to those who provide the Peninsula's necessary labor (at low hourly wages) THAN TO GIVE all kinds of tax breaks and other incentives to developers who build luxury apartments that charge over $4,500/mo for a two bedroom.


Posted by Kevin
a resident of Portola Valley: Los Trancos Woods/Vista Verde
on Nov 28, 2018 at 1:43 pm

Kevin is a registered user.

@Bill Wall,

I think most of the funding for these types of projects comes from the local affordable housing fund, combined with the lion's share from the private developers. Cities collect "in lieu" fees from other developers when they don't build the requisite "below market rate" units into their own developments. So not paid for by tax payers, but indirectly subsidized by other developments in the city.

The Redwood City fund is running a deficit right now, but has $4M-$20M coming in over the next couple years, so there is a stream of non-taxpayer money to help finance this project.

Web Link


Posted by Kevin
a resident of Portola Valley: Los Trancos Woods/Vista Verde
on Nov 28, 2018 at 1:43 pm

Kevin is a registered user.

@Bill Wall,

I think most of the funding for these types of projects comes from the local affordable housing fund, combined with the lion's share from the private developers. Cities collect "in lieu" fees from other developers when they don't build the requisite "below market rate" units into their own developments. So not paid for by tax payers, but indirectly subsidized by other developments in the city.

The Redwood City fund is running a deficit right now, but has $4M-$20M coming in over the next couple years, so there is a stream of non-taxpayer money to help finance this project.

Web Link


Posted by Judy A
a resident of Menlo Park: Downtown
on Nov 29, 2018 at 12:18 pm

Judy A is a registered user.

What income level is considered "affordable"? What we need are low-income units, a step or two below "affordable" so that our working poor can afford to live near there where they work and near good schools.


Posted by common sense
a resident of another community
on Dec 1, 2018 at 3:24 pm

What the county really needs is for employers to pay a high enough wage so that people can afford to live there, rather than having taxpayers subsidize employers' low wages to their employees.


Posted by Menlo Voter.
a resident of Menlo Park: other
on Dec 1, 2018 at 9:16 pm

Menlo Voter. is a registered user.

"What the county really needs is for employers to pay a high enough wage so that people can afford to live there, rather than having taxpayers subsidize employers' low wages to their employees."

Which means we pay for it one way or another. If employers pay enough for their employees to afford living here they pass those costs along in higher prices. If we do it the other way, we pay higher taxes. We pay either way. Socialism at it's best .


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