Firehouse Square Development: Belmont’s New Live-Work Community

Live-Work Space Coming to Belmont, CA

Belmont, California’s Redevelopment Agency is making a major commitment to stimulate economic development in its downtown and surrounding area. The Firehouse Square proposal will go a long way toward accommodating the public’s demand for a “consumer friendly” business core in Belmont, CA’s under utilized Village Center.

A New Type of Home Buyer in San Mateo County

When I started in the real estate business – some 30 years ago – almost every home buyer wanted to buy a property that provided privacy, space between their neighbors, and a degree of separation not available in densely populated urban areas or the cookie-cutter mass market subdivisions.

Consumers Want Walkable Neighborhoods

Today, I hear something very different. The home buyers I talk to want a sense of community and “know-your-neighbor” interdependency, easy commute to quality schools and a hometown feel reminiscent of a Currie and Ives greeting card. They want to be walking distance to services and amenities like coffee shops, restaurants, shopping and basic services, and they want to know – or at least recognize – the people they do business with.

Before Firehouse Square, Home Buyers Had to Go to San Carlos or San Mateo

Unfortunately, many prospective San Mateo County home buyers tell me that they would prefer towns like San Carlos and San Mateo with vibrant central business districts that are consumer friendly – restaurants and shops – and walking distance to public transportation.

What’s Will Be Included in Belmont’s Firehouse Square Development?

Belmont’s Firehouse Square will create a full service community with an exciting mix of quality residential, retail, restaurant and commercial opportunities. The present condition of some portions of the Village Center with its eye-sores, empty lots and shabby low-rise retail/commercial buildings is clearly not the area’s highest and best use. The commercial tax base must rise if Belmont expects to maintain its overall value, appeal and desirability. Studies show that homes retain their value best when they’re located within 35 miles of a major city center, served by superior schools, have a substantial nurtured commercial tax base, and the streets, parks and neighborhoods are well maintained.

Progress on the project has slowed, largely because of the economic downturn and the stagnant commercial lending environment, but times are changing. Every downturn has a light at the end of the tunnel. Remember, the early 1990’s when the expression de jour was “will the last engineer leaving Silicon Valley be sure to turn out the light?”

Where Will the Firehouse Square Development Be Located?

The Firehouse Square Development will be located in the area bordered by O’Neil Ave, El Camino Real, Broadway and 5th Ave and bisected by Civic Lane, a city-owned alleyway.

The site is located very close to the Belmont Caltrain station, so those residents who need to commute can do so easily.

Looking for a Live-Work Development Now? Try Bay Meadows in San Mateo

The City of San Mateo’s Bay Meadows Development upgrade to its highest and best use, and the enhanced the desirability of homes in the San Mateo Village neighborhoods is an excellent example of how a thoughtfully planned, multi-dimensional development can bring jobs, services, conveniences and increased tax revenues to an otherwise sub-par plot of land.

Help Make Belmont a Great Place to Live and Work

Let’s lend our support and help make Belmont, California, a great place to live and work.

What’s for Sale in Belmont?

Click on the map below to view and search homes for sale in Belmont.

Considering a Move to Belmont?

Check out our Buyer Representation Page to learn more about our unique Buyer Representation Program that is All About You! If you like what you see, call us at (650) 655-2500 or email us at info[@]RayChelRealtyGroup.com to schedule a no obligation, no pressure conversation. We’ll help you come up with a home buying plan no matter where you are in the home buying process.

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