Thinking ahead

One solid contender is Redwood City’s Broadway Village, which is soon to open the doors on 400 for-rent market-rate apartments spread over two buildings. For us, downsizing from today’s three-bedroom, two-bath home would mean two bedrooms at a minimum — and this development has 125 of them. There, the typical two-bedroom unit has two full bathrooms, walk-in closets, a washer and dryer and a small outdoor balcony in addition to the kitchen and dining and living areas. With CVS/pharmacy, Smart & Final and the city’s main post office directly across Woodside Road, retail spaces (yet to be leased) within Broadway Village itself, and various small restaurants just down Broadway, the location has its benefits. And, although downtown Redwood City may be too far a walk for us at that point in our lives, it’d be a quick SamTrans bus ride away. Or, we’d just use our car (if we still have one) that we’d keep in the complex’s huge garage.

Out on the Bay, where for years my wife and I saw countless movies, the first of two large apartment buildings is currently being stuccoed. Together these buildings will contain 480 apartments ranging in size from studios to two-bedroom, two-bath units. There, the main appeal would be the view: Many of the apartments look out over Bair Island and the waters of the Bay (but lack balconies). Although the location enables a nearly unbeatable view, being on the east side of Highway 101, where there are no shops or restaurants, and where there is (currently) no bus service, frequent car trips become an absolute necessity on almost a daily basis. That’s perhaps the biggest drawback of the project at 557 E. Bayshore Road, and one that would likely put the project out of contention for our sunset years.

Just this week, I noticed what appeared to be some exploratory digging at 113 Beech St., the future site of one of two apartment buildings soon to become part of Redwood City’s large ELCO Yards development. Although the developer is waiting on the city to issue permits for both buildings (the other being located at the corner of Maple Street and El Camino Real), for us they could be strong contenders. Not only are both slated to have apartments up to three bedrooms in size, both will have some number of townhouse-style units with second floors and exterior main entrances. However, in our later years we’ll likely rule out stairs, so townhouses are out. But together the two buildings will contain around 500 apartments, 65 of which will be regular two-bedroom units — and many will have balconies and thus some amount of private outdoor space. Downtown Redwood City is just a couple of blocks from the site, and being located along El Camino Real there are plenty of shops, restaurants and service businesses close by. Buses frequent El Camino, and there is slated to be plenty of underground parking.

One final development of interest — this one at the north end of San Carlos along El Camino Real — is just getting underway. Replacing an old CVS/pharmacy, the six-story apartment building will contain 251 apartments, 68 of which will have two bedrooms and 11 of which will have three. Pretty much all of the 251 apartments will have some form of private outdoor space. But while being located along El Camino Real (and immediately adjacent to the rest of what once was a larger shopping center) puts some restaurants, shops and services within an easy walk, the nearest grocery store seems farther than I’d like. So, for me, this one would go on my list — although not at the top of that list.

Ideally my wife and I will live out our days in our current home. However, it’s reassuring to know that, in the event we do need (or want) to downsize, there are a lot of good options already out there, and that apparently, in the future, there will be even more.