2025 in review

A few projects underway in January finished up in 2025, including the 1390 Woodside Road office building, the eight townhouses at 955 Woodside Road, the county’s new office building at 500 County Center, and the restaurant spaces where Bravo Taqueria and 5th Quarter Pizza once operated (Bravo is coming back, and a new burger place is coming soon). Redwood City’s sixth cannabis retailer finished building out their Woodside Road space, but never occupied it. Most significantly, the commercial buildings comprising ELCO Yards so far wrapped up this year.

The city received proposals for, or approved, quite a few projects this year. One, for an affordable housing project at 112 Vera Ave., was both approved and got underway in 2025. The city approved the office building proposed for 901 El Camino Real and its associated affordable housing project at 920 Shasta St. The city approved a lot split at 2336 El Camino Real needed for a six-unit townhouse project, and a redesign of the multistory office-and-residential project intended for 1201 Main St. It approved the 32-unit townhouse project to be built at 1320 Marshall St., and the new YMCA building for Red Morton Park. The submission for 910 Marshall was updated (plans now show a 21-story, 222-unit apartment building). Newly submitted were an affordable housing project at 705 Veterans Blvd. and a large office project planned for 505 Penobscot Drive in Redwood Shores.

Stanford’s nine-story medical building began construction; the large mixed-use development out on East Bayshore Road got underway; Sequoia Station was completely repainted; Shores Landing gained a new community center and community garden; and Hyperion Climbing Gym began adding height to its building. Finally, the developer of the 131-unit townhouse project planned alongside Redwood Creek received permission for a three-year delay, and two major proposals were withdrawn: 1205 Veterans Blvd. (479 apartments), and the 136-unit apartment project slated to replace American Legion Post 105.

As for infrastructure, Main Street was rebuilt through ELCO Yards, Beech Street was aligned with Lincoln Avenue at El Camino Real (cars cannot pass directly between them, but pedestrians will be able to), and two blocks of protected bike lane were added along El Camino Real from Cedar to Maple streets. Redwood City’s sewer conveyance pump station was completely rebuilt, the water reclamation facility in Redwood Shores is being upgraded, and the city’s web of recycled water pipelines grew significantly in 2025. A PCB cleanup project took place in the waterway immediately behind 505 E. Bayshore Blvd. The Jardin de Niños park expansion got underway, the city piloted an expansion of Lawrie Duncan Park, the Main Street Dog Agility Park was rebuilt, Mitchell Field in Red Morton Park received new artificial turf, a new fitness court was constructed adjacent to the Redwood Shores Library, and the Hoover Park renovation project was awarded to a contractor.

The Highway 101/Woodside Road interchange project is apparently funded, so Redwood City is acquiring parcels needed for right-of-way; and the proposed ferry service to Redwood City inched closer to reality.

Redwood City saw a lot of business activity in 2025. For instance, AutoZone relocated to make way for a proposed office building, while AM Party Rentals opened on East Bayshore Road. The terrific Fireside Books & More opened at 2421 Broadway; the Center for Creativity took over the lobby of the Hotel Sequoia building; Con Azucar Café opened on Theatre Way; Ocean Oyster Bar & Grill and Cardamomo Pizzeria both opened along Broadway; and Yumi Yogurt and a new police substation opened in Sequoia Station. The Yard Coffee closed briefly to spruce up its outdoor space.

Both the downtown Starbucks and JoAnn Fabrics closed their doors permanently. City Pub closed, but The Wild Rover opened in its place; Baires Bakery was replaced by Sana’a Café; and de Vine Wine & Beer opened in the former BottleShop space on Broadway. Finally, a fire at Avenue Liquors in Roosevelt Center temporary closed Oh Baby Sushi and Big Brothers Burgers, while a vehicular accident now has Hassett Ace Hardware (in Woodside Plaza) closed for significant repairs.