AgdaPkt 2020-11-16 Special - Laserfiche WebLink

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BAYAREA COUNCIL September 3, 2020 SENT VIA EMAIL Redwood City Council c/o City Clerk 1017 Middlefield Road Redwood City, CA 94063 RE: Support — South Main Mixed Use: 1304 & 1601 E/ Camino Real Dear Mayor Howard and Members of the City Council, On behalf of the over 350 members of the Bay Area Council, I am writing to voice our support for Greystar's proposed project at 1304 & 1601 EI Camino Real. This is an exceptional proposal in all aspects, but what impressed us most was the care and diligence Greystar has demonstrated in striving to meet the needs of the community and serve Redwood City. California is experiencing an unprecedented housing shortage that will devastate our cities and communities. The California Department of Housing and Community Development estimates that the state must build 180,000 new units of housing annually by 2025 to meet projected population growth - over 100,000 more units than we are currently creating. This shortage is already impacting Redwood City, pushing out longtime residents and future generations alike. This project is an opportunity to build vibrant new housing in a key neighborhood. Greystar has been extremely responsive to public input, redesigning the project several times over, and the result is a development that builds community connections and meets critical needs. The project's generous commitment to childcare facilities provides an invaluable resource for young working families and will help solve for a critical shortage of childcare slots in Redwood City. Greystar has worked diligently with community and civic leaders to envision a vibrant and welcoming space, and their vision sets an example for future projects, hitting several benchmarks that make this an exceptional opportunity for Redwood City: New and Affordable Housing — This project directly addresses Redwood City's jobs - housing imbalance by adding units close to several major employers. It offers 540 new residences, 147 of which will be reserved for BMR affordability, including units at the very low- and extremely low-income scale. By partnering with HIP to run this low- income housing, and offering nearby units at moderate -income and market -rate levels, the proposed project ensures a diverse and resilient community.