I’m just back from a two-week trip to England. We landed last evening at about 7 p.m., which means that I’ve had little time to get around to see what has happened in Redwood City over the past two weeks. Although I did a fair amount of walking today — 4.5 miles, according to my smartphone — given my limited time I somewhat reluctantly had to combine my walking with driving in order to gather information for this week’s post.

One of the projects I was eager to check up on is what will eventually be the new nine-story medical office building on Stanford’s Redwood City campus. While I was gone, a great deal of the glass that will cover the majority of the building was installed:

Looking at the building from a couple of different angles, I saw that the nine-story portion of the building now has nearly all of its glass exterior. And I watched as one of the glass panels that will allow light into the three story portion along Broadway was craned into position and installed:

From what I could see the inside still has a long way to go. In addition, the multi-level parking garage that will stand along Highway 101 behind this new building has yet to rise above ground level (that garage will ultimately have one level below ground and three at ground level and above, enabling it to accommodate just over 600 vehicles). Too, the new entry drive and landscaped areas between this new building and the existing medical campus have yet to be created — but those will understandably be done when the building is far closer to completion.

From the Stanford campus I walked up Broadway to just shy of Woodside Road, where I jogged west to check in on the Hoover Park project. Although that project is still in the early stages, all of the demolition is complete and there are clear signs of forward progress on the completely revamped park’s construction:

Then, of course, I had to cross Woodside Road and check up on the Broadway Village project. The exterior construction elevator is no longer attached to the third residential building, and the area where the elevator used to cling to that building is finally being patched up, signaling that the building is nearly ready for occupancy:

Although construction fences and temporary K-rails remain, the new sidewalks and curbs along Bay Road are pretty much done; now the developer simply needs to repave that portion of the street:

The project’s owner has yet to begin leasing the 400 new apartments (total) in the two market-rate residential buildings (the affordable residential building is already at least partially occupied, I believe) but I can’t be long now. Likely, that will happen sometime this summer. In any case, anyone interested should head to the project’s website and fill out the online contact form.

Next I checked in on the restaurant that is taking over the old Sizzler space on Veterans Boulevard. It seems that the rumors were indeed correct: it is to be a Mediterranean restaurant. Unlike much of its Redwood City competition, however, this will apparently be a “fine dining” establishment serving Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. Because the windows are now covered up, I can no longer get a glimpse of the interior dining space, but not only does this new venture now have a name — “The Reef Zaman” — it also has a website. Check it out!

Oh, and The Reef Zaman is hiring, in case anyone is interested…

Out on the bay, the large five-story apartment building that replaced the old Century Park 12 Theatres continues to make steady progress. The big story out there this time, however, concerns the companion Villa Sport Athletic Club and Spa, which is finally taking visible, albeit skeletal, shape:

Finally, while I was walking the large loop that takes me both behind and in front of the above projects, I noted that the city is replacing some of the curbs and sidewalks near the Whipple Avenue overpass as well as adding some curbs and new sidewalks along a portion of E. Bayshore Road:

Here is where the new bit of sidewalk is being added (which was just behind me when I took the above photo):

These upgrades will certainly improve things as I continue to make this big loop almost weekly while the apartment/Villa Sport site is under construction. I’m crossing my fingers, hoping that this will make walking over the freeway via Whipple Avenue significantly safer (there are no lights indicating to approaching cars that a pedestrian is attempting to cross the freeway on- and off-ramps at Whipple; although there are marked crosswalks, the cars are moving at high speeds and really aren’t expecting to encounter a pedestrian). Given the hazardous conditions I almost never cross the freeway there. Instead I use the Highway 101 pedestrian/cyclist underpass at the end of Main Street.

That’s about it for this week. I did catch a glimpse of the fire-damaged apartment building along Whipple Avenue between El Camino Real and Arch Street as our taxi from SFO whizzed by, but I haven’t yet visited it with my camera. Something for next time, I guess. Along with — probably — a discussion of the latest design for the large (seven story) affordable housing project proposed for the site across Walnut Street from Wheeler Plaza in San Carlos.

As I write this, the first Music on the Square concert of the season is about to get underway (it begins at 6 p.m.), with a Santana tribute band. These downtown concerts will take place on most (all?) Friday evenings through September 4. Personally, I’m looking forward to Music in the Park, which this year will take place on Wednesday evenings from June 17 through August 19. But I should also note that the first of four Pub in the Park events — which combine beer, food, bluegrass music, and outdoor games — will be held tomorrow, Saturday May 30, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Red Morton Park (at the Valota Road end). The forecast is for a sunny day, although a slightly cool and breezy one, so plan accordingly. Note that although the concert and the games are free, the beer and food (available from six different food trucks) is not.

Redwood City’s various concert series — I didn’t even mention Sounds of the Shores, Classical on the Square, and Kids Rock! — are just part of what makes Redwood City such a wonderful place in which to live. And it seems that others are starting to notice: thanks to a heads-up from Redwood City’s Economic Development Manager, I learned that HGTV has named Redwood City one of the country’s 20 best suburbs (Mill Valley being the only other one in California).

Stanford Medicine will be holding a community webinar regarding the Cancer Center that Stanford is considering adding to its Redwood City campus. The webinar will be held on June 10 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. (in English) and from 7 – 8 p.m. (in Spanish). For more information and to RSVP (they would appreciate that all attendees RSVP in advance, and include any questions on the online RSVP form) head to https://redwoodcity.stanfordmedicine.org.