City, San Mateo County
© McCormack's Guides
Zip Codes: 94061, 94062, 94063, 94064, 94065
Residential-government
town that has captured a good
deal of high-tech. Headquarters for Oracle and other software firms. Population
77,269. www.mccormacks.com
The city
stretches from the Bay to the hills and is one half settled, the other half
overhauling itself or building from scratch.
The
settled half is located mostly west of El Camino Real, the old King’s Highway,
and consists of the majority of the town’s housing. Most the new housing is
going up east of El Camino Real, toward the Bay.
Click for regional or detailed map
Although
Redwood City got its start about the Civil War, when it milled the redwoods cut
in the mountains, it didn’t boom until after World War II. The city started the
1940s with about 2,900 housing units, built 3,500 units in that decade, 6,500
in the 1950s, and 5,100 units in the 1960s. Timing is important because the
prewar and immediate postwar housing favored the two-bedroom home. In the 1950s
and 1960s, as prosperity took hold, the three-bedroom home came on strong.
About 62
percent of Redwood City's housing predates 1970 — many two- and
three-bedroom homes and by the standards of Silicon Valley, affordable. Before
prices took off in the mid 1990s, Redwood City was a move-up town for families
from San Francisco.
Redwood
City is the county seat and the location of many government buildings,
including the courts, the sheriff, the jail, the county administrator’s office
and other agencies. Adding in the school district and city hall, the tally of
government jobs runs to about 2,000. www.mccormacks.com
At the
same time, the city and the region have produced many jobs in the private
sector. Redwood City has the San Mateo County’s only port for large ships. The
city is within a short drive of Palo Alto and Silicon Valley and San Francisco
International Airport. Nearby bridges connect the town to the East Bay.
Coming
into the 1970s, Redwood City was considered a blue-collar to middle-class town
with some upscale streets.
In 1959,
Redwood City annexed 1,500 acres of marsh and salt flats. Ambitious plans were
drawn up to develop the site but problems intervened and development didn’t
kick into high gear until the 1980s. This section, called Redwood Shores, now
has about 15,000 residents, many living in townhouses and single homes, and
high-tech firms, notably Oracle and its gleaming round office-research towers.
Redwood
Shores or the baylands, with many arguments, is still building. One developer
has submitted plans for about 800 homes and another for 144 townhouses.
Cargill, owner of the former salt flats, wants to erect housing on some of its
holdings.
Redwood
Shores and its neighbors brought in a new type of resident: affluent middle
class, comfortable with high tech. www.mccormacks.com
Meanwhile,
city is overhauling its downtown and plans to build in this sector about 3,400
apartments and condos, some subsidized to be “affordable,” many at market
prices, which these days often brings in the high-tech affluent.
The state
in 2008 counted 29,276 housing units, of which 13,554 were single-family
detached, 3,656 single attached, 11,233 multiples and 833 mobiles.
Two other
neighborhoods need to be mentioned, both just outside city limits but part of
the Redwood City family.
The first,
Emerald Lake, is located above Redwood City, near Interstate 280. Mostly single
homes. Views of the Bay. Affluent. Homeowner’s association. About 3,300
residents.
The
second, North Fair Oaks, flatlands near Highway 101, about 15,000 residents,
many of them immigrants. Low income in many parts but because of rising housing
values some sections are attracting middle-class residents. www.mccormacks.com
These neighborhoods
enter the Redwood City picture through the schools or through shopping and
socializing.
The
children are educated by four school districts:
• Redwood
City Elementary District. Most of Redwood City and North Fair Oaks.
•
Belmont-Redwood Shores Elementary District: Redwood Shores. Most of the kids
attend Sandpiper Elementary in Redwood Shores and Ralston Intermediate in
Belmont.
• Woodside
Elementary District: Emerald Lake. www.mccormacks.com
• Sequoia
Union High School District: serves Redwood City, North Fair Oaks, Menlo Park,
Atherton, Emerald Lake, Belmont, Woodside, Portola Valley and East Palo Alto.
The schools are Carlmont High in Belmont, Menlo-Atherton High in Atherton,
Sequoia High in Redwood City and Woodside High in Woodside. There’s also a fairly
new charter school, Summit Prep, which may be moving to a new campus in Redwood
City.
Scores in
these schools are diverse. In the affluent areas, many schools are scoring in
the 90th percentile, the top 10 percent in state. A few are landing the 98th
and 99th percentile — numbers that indicate demanding
academics.
In the
low-income areas, a few schools are scoring in the 10th and 20th
percentile. And no surprise, between these extremes a few schools score about
the middle. See Schools.
With
scores like this, there is often a lot of maneuvering to fit the child to the
appropriate school and at the same time to maintain diversity at the schools. Both
the elementary and the high-school district are using alternate or magnet or charter
schools to give parents choices.
If you are
moving into Redwood City or its neighborhoods, check with the school district
to identify the assigned schools and, if you wish, to apply for a transfer. www.mccormacks.com
Ask also
about schedules. Redwood City Elementary runs some of its schools on a
year-round calendar.
All districts
have passed bonds to renovate and add buildings. With the exception of Redwood
Elementary District, all have passed a tax to maintain program quality. In
California, funding to school districts varies widely.
For
Redwood City, three homicides in 2005, one in 2004, two in 2003, one each in
2002, 2001 and 2000. In previous years four, two, one, three, six, four, three,
three, one, two, zero, zero, three, three, four. Sheriff's office has opened a
substation in Fair Oaks. See Crime.
Commute …
not bad, mainly because of the proximity to job centers. Highway 101 at the
Bay, Interstate 280 in the hills. Caltrain runs bullet trains to San Francisco
and local trains. SamTrans provides buses.
Old cities
(Redwood City incorporated in 1868) often do unusually well in recreational and
cultural activities because they have had so much time to pile up the parks and
goodies. www.mccormacks.com
Redwood
City counts about two dozen parks (one for dogs), a movie complex, 20 public
tennis courts, miniature golf, a roller-skating rink, an ice-skating rink, two swimming
pools, three libraries, a museum, several marinas and a yacht club. Fishing
pier. Redwood Shores runs some of its recreation through the homeowner
associations and has a recreation-community center (gym, fitness rooms). Usual
sports and unusual: ice hockey for kids and adults.
Cańada
Community College on city border; many classes, activities. Farmers’ market,
community theater, Sunflower Festival. University of California has opened a
branch campus of its extension program.
What has
the town abuzz: the movie theater (20 screens) and stores and restaurants in
the downtown. City sees the theater complex leading the revival of the
downtown. On some downtown streets, the city has laid in brickwork and
installed old-fashioned lamps. Former police station was turned into an art
center-gallery
Many
stores are situated along El Camino Real. Besides supermarkets and the usual
stores, Redwood City has a Barnes and Noble Bookstore and a Whole Foods. Trader
Joe’s in San Carlos, adjoining town. For upscale, Stanford Mall at Palo Alto,
(Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Macys).
Chamber of
commerce (650) 364-1722.
• In 2005,
Redwood Shores passed a neighborhood tax to buy land and build and improve
school facilities — just for Redwood Shores. When Sandpiper Elementary
School opened in 1997 in Redwood Shores, Redwood City chipped in for a
community center and playing fields. www.mccormacks.com
• Median
age of residents is 35. Children and teens under 18 make up 24 percent of town;
people over 55 years, 18 percent. Rounded demographics (2000 census).
• On the
Redwood City streets built just after World War II, the driveway leads directly
to the street, no matter that some streets are now arterials. In Redwood
Shores, the residential streets are buffered from the arterial thoroughfares —
which is not to say they are kid proof but they’re safer.
• In the
late 20th century, planners discovered the linear park and the trail, as in
hiking and jogging. Redwood Shores has them and seems friendlier to easy
activity than the other sections of town (but the city does very well in parks
and rec).
• San
Carlos has small airport near the freeway. Some Redwood Shores folks have
complained about plane noise.
• In the
hills, disputes arise over views and sunlight. City passed an ordinance to
control building of additions and second stories. www.mccormacks.com
• Library
to be built in Redwood Shores.
• At many
schools parents are chipping in to make up some of the funding.
• For over
40 years, Redwood City celebrated the Fourth of July by setting off fireworks
on the waterfront. Then a few years ago, the city asked, is this safe? No more
fireworks. In 2006, decision reviewed; fireworks back.
• Coming
on line in 2007: water recycling, $24 million plant. For plants and landscaping.
• Bouncing
along. City is installing rubber or soft plastic matting on some sidewalks in
place of concrete. Saves trees, easier on feet. www.mccormacks.com
• Kaiser
and Sequoia hospitals, to meet tougher earthquake standards, are rebuilding
their medical centers. Work may be completed by 2012. Stanford Hospital is
moving its clinics into new quarters; opening in 2008.
City web
site: www.redwoodcity.org
