Bay Area Real Estate News: Fremont, Redwood City Housing and Alameda County Tax Bills

by Chris Renois

This week brought two big housing groundbreakings on either side of the Bay: Fremont is starting six affordable housing developments, and construction is now underway on 501 apartments at ELCO Yards in downtown Redwood City. Meanwhile, Alameda County property owners should be getting their 2026-2027 secured property tax bills, and the first installment comes due November 1.

Fremont Breaks Ground on Six Projects With 918 Affordable Homes

The City of Fremont says six housing developments are breaking ground this fall in Centerville, Irvington, Warm Springs and Downtown. Together they will add 918 homes for low-income households. The six projects are Arbor View, Canvas Apartments, Capital at City Center, Centerville Plaza Apartments, Fremont Warm Springs and Thornton & Post. According to the city, the rentals will serve households earning between 20% and 80% of area median income. The city has helped fund four of the six.

The city says more than 560 affordable units opened in Fremont in 2025, ranking it second in Alameda County for affordable homes completed last year. Mayor Raj Salwan said the city has cut its post-entitlement permit review to half the time the state requires. Fremont's Housing Element calls for more than 7,000 affordable units by 2031.

Capital at City Center, 3440 Walnut Avenue

This downtown project mixes for-sale and affordable rental homes. The city's upcoming-units list shows 119 affordable rental apartments at 3440 Walnut Avenue, sponsored by Pacific West Communities, with leasing expected to start in spring 2028. On the same site, Brookfield Residential is marketing 216 townhomes. Brookfield says they will range from about 1,283 to 2,096 square feet, with up to four bedrooms and three baths. Brookfield hasn't published prices yet.

Canvas, 39340 Fremont Boulevard

Also downtown, Community Development Partners has begun building Canvas, a five-story, 92-unit affordable community on a 0.72-acre lot across from the Fremont Hub, according to The Registry and Tri-City Voice. The roughly $59 million project will offer studios through three-bedroom apartments for households earning 30% to 70% of area median income. Fifteen homes are set aside for households that include a person with an intellectual or developmental disability. Completion is expected in March 2028.

What it means for you: If you're a buyer interested in new construction in central Fremont, keep an eye on the Brookfield townhomes as pricing comes out. Renters who may qualify for the affordable units can sign up for the city's Affordable Housing Interest Lists to hear when applications open. If you live near Walnut Avenue or Fremont Boulevard, expect construction activity there over the next couple of years.

Redwood City: 501 Apartments Break Ground at ELCO Yards

High Street Residential, the residential arm of Trammell Crow Company, and its partner Barings have started building two apartment buildings at ELCO Yards. ELCO Yards is a six-block mixed-use district in downtown Redwood City. According to the developer, both buildings are scheduled to open in 2029:

1555 El Camino Real: 252 apartments averaging about 751 square feet, plus 5,277 square feet of ground-floor retail.
113 Beech Street: 249 apartments averaging about 787 square feet.

Both buildings will have studios through three-bedroom units, and some units in each building will be affordable. REBusinessOnline reports that WRNS Studio designed the buildings and SBI Builders is the general contractor. Trammell Crow says the office and life sciences portion of ELCO Yards, led by IQHQ, is already finished and 50% leased.

The groundbreaking follows changes the Redwood City Council approved in November 2025. According to the San Mateo Daily Journal, the council let the project reserve fewer deed-restricted affordable units in exchange for a $5.8 million affordable housing impact fee paid to the city. Redwood City Pulse reports the developer said the changes were needed to make construction financially feasible. The final affordable unit count wasn't in the sources we reviewed.

What it means for you: For downtown Redwood City, this is a substantial amount of new rental housing arriving in 2029. Small landlords on the Peninsula may want to keep it in mind when planning for the coming years.

Alameda County Property Tax Bills: First Installment Due November 1

Alameda County Treasurer and Tax Collector Henry C. Levy's office is mailing more than 447,000 secured property tax bills for fiscal year 2026-2027 this month, totaling about $6.4 billion, the Alameda Post reports. Key dates:

First installment: due November 1, 2026, and delinquent after 5 p.m. on Thursday, December 10, 2026. Late payments get a 10% penalty.
Second installment: due February 1, 2027, and delinquent after 5 p.m. on Monday, April 12, 2027. Late payments get a 10% penalty plus a $10 cost.

Mailed payments go to the Treasurer and Tax Collector at PO Box 45862, San Francisco, CA 94145-0862. The county's FAQ says you can order a duplicate bill online, at the office or by calling (510) 272-6800.

What it means for you: If your lender pays your taxes through escrow, it's still worth checking that the payment goes through. If you recently bought a home, keep in mind that the county may also send a separate supplemental tax bill after a change in ownership. If you have questions about your assessment or bill, a tax professional can help.

Sources

Thinking about buying or selling in the Bay Area? Chris Renois can walk you through how these changes affect your home and your plans. Call or text (650) 512-9817, email chrisrenois@therealexperts.com, or get a free home value estimate.

This article is general information for Bay Area homeowners and buyers, not legal, tax or financial advice. Laws, rates and deadlines change; please confirm details with the original sources linked above or a qualified professional. Chris Renois, California DRE #02030130.