Veterans Memorial Building/Senior Center-YMCA Project

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Veterans Memorial Building/Senior Center-YMCA Project (Joint Project with the YMCA of Silicon Valley)

What's New?

April 2026 Update

The community is welcome to join us for a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on May 4, 2026 at 12pm.

February 2026 Update

The City anticipates that final inspections of the building will be completed in March 2026, with a soft opening to the public tentatively planned to occur later in the Spring.

March 2023 Update

The new Veterans Memorial Building/Senior Center construction was significantly delayed by the unusually wet winter/early spring. More updates will be provided as the project progresses, and at that time we will have a better estimated completion time from the construction firm. Thank you again for your patience.

May 2022 Update

Construction for Phase I of the Veterans Memorial Building/Senior Center-YMCA Project continues. Beginning Tuesday, May 3 through approximately Friday, May 13, the intersection of Hudson/Madison will be closed for the next phase of work, including curb/gutter for the bulb-outs and paving. To view the traffic control and detour plan, click here.

July 2021 Update

The new Veterans Memorial Building/Senior Center Project is officially underway! The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Friday, July 16, fencing has since been set up around the site. Removal of hazardous materials within the old 49er Building (Senior Center Annex), NFL Alumni Building, and Herkner Pool complex will be addressed over the next couple of weeks. Additionally, the contractor will be setting up their construction trailer, removing some trees (part of the approved plan and 37 new trees will be planted as part of the project), and performing work on the parking lot.

June 2021 Update

We are pleased to announce the start of construction for Phase 1 of the Veterans Memorial Building/Senior Center-YMCA Project! Phase 1 includes the construction of the new Veterans Memorial Building/Senior Center, new parking lot, the promenade, and traffic calming improvements along Madison/Hudson, Madison/Jefferson, and Valota/Vera.

The work is scheduled to begin July 12, 2021 with a total construction period of approximately 24 months. Working hours will be 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, unless otherwise specified for non-peak hours.

Project Manager
Robin Mathers, Gilbrane Building Company
(408) 332-2914
rmathers@gilbaneco.com

Construction Notice

May 2021 Update

After years in the making, a major milestone towards the reality of a new Veterans Memorial Building/ Senior Center will be considered by the City Council on May 24 — proposed financing and award of contract to commence construction for phase 1 of the project.

These two actions will officially kick-off the development of the shared inter-generational campus of buildings and spaces including, a new Veterans Memorial Building/Senior Center with a theater, catering kitchen, multi-purpose rooms, senior club room, wellness/Adaptive Physical Education rooms, non-profit partner officers, gardening space, a mini-gym, Veterans exhibits, and more!

March 2021 Update

The City is currently seeking qualified bidders for the Veterans Memorial Building/Senior Center project. The project consists of demolition of the existing senior center, pool, and NFL alumni buildings at the corner of Madison Avenue and Nevada Street in Redwood City. The new structure consists of 45,000 sf of multipurpose rooms, caterer’s and demonstration kitchen, welcoming lobby for social gatherings, a 299-seat theater, exhibit space honoring veterans and celebrating NFL alumni, mini-gymnasium, wellness and adaptive PE studios, and various conferencing and administrative space for Redwood City and non-profit organizations who partner with the City to provide numerous community services. RFP's shall be mailed to City Hall and postmarked no later than March 19, 2021. Please click here to access the RFQ.

October 2020 Update

First and foremost, we want to acknowledge that 2020 has proven to be the most challenging year in recent history and we hope that you and yours are staying safe and healthy.

As you will recall, last December, the City Council approved the Veterans Memorial Building/Senior Center-YMCA project. We agreed to a two-phased approach towards the project, beginning with the City taking the lead on construction of a new Veterans Memorial Building/Senior Center (Phase 1), followed by the YMCA’s construction of a new YMCA building (Phase 2).

Due to COVID-19 and the impact on the bond market, as well as being mindful of construction impacts while people are sheltering-in-place, the City and the YMCA have collectively agreed to pause progression of the project at this time. We will consider re-launching the bid process and project financing later in 2021.

We are committed to improving facilities for seniors and the entire community, and the partnership between the City and the YMCA helps us do that together. We thank you for your understanding and look forward to reengaging on this project with the timing is right.

January 28, 2020 Update

On December 16, 2019, following a public hearing, the City Council waived the first reading and introduced an ordinance to rezone the property at 1455 Madison Avenue, 711 Nevada Street and an adjacent parcel with no address. The City Council adopted a resolution certifying the Final EIR; adopted CEQA findings, a Mitigation Monitoring Reporting Program and a Statement of Overriding Considerations. The City Council also adopted a resolution approving the City-YMCA Master Project Agreement, including a Form of Ground Lease and Purchase Sale Agreement. Lastly, the City Council, by motion, approved the design of Phase 1 of the project, which includes the Veterans Memorial Building/Senior Center building, a public promenade, the east parking lot and traffic calming measures.

The staff report and materials from the December 16, 2019 City Council meeting can be found here.

The VMSC Phase 1 project is now being reviewed by the Building division. It is anticipated that construction will begin mid-2020.

Project Timeline

On November 19, 2019, the Planning Commission considered a recommendation that the City Council certify an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), recommend approval of a Zoning Map Amendment from Residential Duplex (R2) to Public Facilities (PF), and recommend approval of the design for Phase 1 of the project (Veterans Memorial Building/Senior Center). The meeting was held at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City. The City Council made a final decision on the Zoning Map Amendment, project design and CEQA certification at the scheduled hearing on December 16, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City. Public notices were sent after the hearing date was confirmed.

For more information, please see the notice of public hearing here.

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT

The Draft EIR for the proposed project is now available for a 45-day public review period. The public review period goes from June 7, 2019 through July 22, 2019. The Draft EIR can be viewed here, and the Notice of Availability and Public Hearing can be seen here.

Para más información en español, favor de comunicarse con (650) 780-7234 o planning@redwoodcity.org.

On Monday, March 25, the City Council will receive a design development presentation on the project and City staff will seek City Council input and direction to initiate development of construction documentation for Phase I of the project. For the staff report, click the link below.

March 25 City Council Staff Report

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

The Architectural Advisory Committee will be holding a public hearing to discuss the development of Phase 1 of the new joint facility. The hearing will take place on Thursday, September 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 1017 Middlefield Rd. The Public Hearing Notice can be seen here.

Para más información en español, favor de comunicarse con (650) 780-7234 o planning@redwoodcity.org

SUSTAINABLE CLIMATE CONTROL DESIGN

Keeping community members and seniors cool on hot days and warm on cold days is a high priority design principle of the proposed Veterans Memorial Building/Senior Center. The new climate control system ensures that even on the hottest and coldest days, the new building will offer comfortable temperatures and will have on demand cooling and heating--while still putting our best carbon footprint forward.The innovative approach uses solar chimneys, hydraulic piping, natural ventilation, thermal mass and solar mitigation which will adapt to future climate change. Read more in our Redwood City Voice blog here.

For a more detailed summary of the Climate Control System, click on the link below:

Climate Control Details Summary
Project Update June 28, 2019

June 7, 2019

The City of Redwood City is the Lead Agency and has prepared an Environmental Impacts Report (EIR) pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the proposed VMSC YMCA project to analyze potential environmental impacts and identify mitigation measures to reduce significant impacts to a less-than-significant level.

The Draft EIR is available for public review starting on June 7, 2019 through July 22, 2019. Comments on the draft EIR must be given at the public hearing or in writing by July 22, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. All written comments should be directed to:

Anna McGill, Senior Planner | amcgill@redwoodcity.org | (650) 780- 7278 | 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City 94063

A public hearing on the Draft EIR will be conducted by the Planning Commission at its July 2, 2019 regular meeting, which begins at 7:00 PM, in the Redwood City Council Chambers, 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City. The Cultural Resources chapter of the Draft EIR will also be brought to the Historic Resources Advisory Committee (HRAC) at its July 11, 2019 regular meeting, which begins at 7:00 PM, in the Redwood City Council Chambers, 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City specifically to discuss the loss of a historic resource as part of the proposed project.

Draft EIR

Planning Application Submittal for Phase 1- Veterans Memorial Building/Senior Center

March 20, 2019

The Project architect, ELS, revised project documents in order for the application to be complete and move the project approval process forward. ELS has been working on responding to City staff comments and resubmitted plans on February 20, 2019. The revised plans and forms can be accessed below.

For other project milestones click here.

Proposed Project Details

The Veterans Memorial Building/Senior Center-YMCA project is designed to meet Redwood City's growing needs and enhance the community's fitness, wellness, and recreational resources. By fostering this public-private partnership, the City and the YMCA will leverage their unique strengths to better meet the long-term recreational, health and social needs of the Redwood City community and promote the City's strategic initiative of attaining 'A Community for All Ages.'

The Veterans Memorial Building/Senior Center facility and YMCA facility at Palm Park are aging and will require future improvements to meet Redwood City’s changing needs. The joint project is designed to enhance the community's fitness, wellness, and recreational resources. After much community discussion about whether to rebuild or renovate, a decision has been made to rebuild and re-imagine these facilities. The revised design proposal will provide better integration of the new facilities within Red Morton Park, preserving valued open green space.

The project would include a brand new modern Veterans Memorial Senior Center (VMSC) with a theater, catering kitchen, multi-purpose rooms, senior club room, non-profit partner offices, gardening space, and technology hub. Programs that seniors are receiving right now, for free or low-cost, will continue at the new VMSC. The campus of buildings and spaces that will be replaced include the Veterans Memorial Building, Herkner Pool, Wellness Center (Old 49er Building), Resource Building (City Administration and Senior Center Gift Shop), and the NFL Alumni Building.