Bay Meadows development site close to completion in San Mateo

The former property of the Bay Meadows Race Track site is divided into 18 blocks, with five for office use, four mixed-use and nine blocks meant for residential use.

While the vast majority of the developments have been completed, a couple have yet to be constructed, largely due to COVID-19-induced challenges.

“All of these [developments] have been built with the exception of mixed-use blocks two and three, which were approved by the Planning Commission in 2021,” Planning Manager Manira Sandhir said. “These blocks have not yet been built because of delays associated with the pandemic and the subsequent financial slowdown and therefore the applicant had requested and sought that three-year extension.”

Last year, the developer completed one residential building comprising 50 apartments and four townhomes.

“That’s probably the biggest change in the neighborhood; there are people on the street again. They’re walking between buildings,” Chuck Noll, vice president of construction management at Wilson Meany said during the Nov. 12 Planning Commission meeting. “It’s really changed the dynamic.”

San Mateo Planning Commissioners said they were supportive of the progress, despite economic setbacks in recent years.

“It looks like the project has probably turned out better than anyone could have anticipated over 20 years ago,” Commissioner John Ebneter said. “With the sustainability and the union contracts that have been used throughout, I think it really shows that you are dedicated to a high-quality workforce. … I think it’s a model that could be emulated elsewhere.”