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Construction is nearing completion on a new Redwood City Police Department substation at Sequoia Station, according to RCPD Patrol Captain Junsun Lee.
The substation comes amid efforts to improve security at the shopping center, including the installation of surveillance cameras, increased lighting, and “stronger coordination between private security and our patrol officers,” Lee wrote in a statement to the Pulse.
The substation will not offer public services; instead, it will function as a “base” for officers assigned to the shopping center and the nearby downtown area, allowing them to respond more efficiently to calls, Lee said.
Sequoia Station, located adjacent to the Redwood City Caltrain station, has long been criticized for criminal activity and security concerns. In the past few years, ownership and redevelopment plans for Sequoia Station have shifted multiple times, most recently in December 2023, when Hunter Properties acquired the shopping center for $53 million.
Where previous owners planned to redevelop the shopping center into a transit hub complete with housing, office, and retail space, Hunter Properties is focused on renovating the station and filling empty spaces with new vendors, said Hunter Properties principal Curtis Leigh.
Redwood City residents can expect no major redevelopment at Sequoia Station for the next eight to 12 years, Leigh said, noting that most new vendors are seeking 10-year leases within the shopping center. Some vacancies have already been filled — a new Yumi Yogurt location is set to open soon, as is the RCPD substation. Leigh added that more vendors will be announced in the coming months.
“After that, we’ll see what the market bears, whether it’s a major redevelopment like previous owners have planned or more of a moderate redevelopment,” Leigh said.
Though the substation has yet to open officially, the RCPD has stationed officers there and “seen some early benefits,” Lee wrote.
Ongoing efforts to improve security at Sequoia Station include regular patrols, community outreach, and “focused operations… to address loitering, theft, and other nuisance-related concerns,” he added.
Earlier this month, Lee said, officers in the substation responded to a call about an individual causing a disturbance at the Sequoia Station Safeway, shutting down the incident before the individual entered other businesses in the station.
Given the shopping center’s proximity to both a SamTrans bus station and the Redwood City Caltrain station, security efforts necessitate collaboration between Hunter Properties’ private security, RCPD officers, SamTrans, and Caltrain, Leigh said.
“Caltrain is responsible for the security of the platform at Sequoia Station, and has the Transit Police regularly patrol the area in addition to private security provided by both the San Mateo County Transit District,” and Hunter Properties, as well as RCPD officers, said Caltrain’s Public Information Officer Dan Lieberman.
Last winter, Sequoia Station underwent landscaping aimed at deterring encampments, according to reporting by the San Mateo Daily Journal. The station also recently received a fresh coat of paint and new awnings, Leigh said.
The next phase of renovations will target the station’s breezeway and create outdoor seating in front of the shopping center’s southwest wing, Leigh said.
“The City is currently focused on short-term improvements to Sequoia Station aimed at enhancing safety, cleanliness, and the overall experience for those who live, work, and shop in the area,” said Deputy City Manager Jennifer Yamaguma.
Long-term plans include “grade separation and the relocation of the transit center,” Yamaguma added.
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We attended a RWC City Council meeting shortly after the Hunter Properties acquisition of Sequoia Station, where Hunter properties basically said they were killing any redevelopment plans and not planning any major improvements to the property. RWC City Council members essentially responded by licking the Hunter Properties reps boots – – – heaping praise and asking no hard questions about plans to mitigate ongoing issues with the property. It was pretty disgusting to watch.
No substation will matter if no officers are available at all hours!!
My son was mugged at the train station 2 weeks ago! Patrol the whole space! More importantly, PATROL the WHOLE town!!!!
Visibility is MAJORLY NEEDED!!!
Thank you!