Bay Area rents see summer jump

There was an uptick across most of the region last month Not too long ago, Bay Area renters began to feel some relief. In the latter part of 2016, analysts described softening rents and, indeed, a plateau appeared to have emerged early this year. But here we go again. Related Articles Stanford opens affordable housing site Mayfield Place Real Deal: California housing market rebounds in May, but inventory remains low RV dwellers brace for Palo Alto’s 72-hour parking crackdown Silicon Valley Realtors urged to find solutions to housing issues … and fast Biz Break: AMD falls in “Epyc’s” wake; Toast with a mortgage The cost of renting an apartment moved up in June across the region, according to a new analysis from ApartmentList.com, a website that tracks the national rental market. Nationwide, the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment was $1,150, up 2.9 percent from a year earlier. Most Bay Area cities were about double that, or more. Here are a few highlights from the report. In San Jose, the median monthly cost of a one-bedroom flat was $2,050, while a two-bedroom went for $2,570. Month-over-month, that spelled a 1 percent increase, while the year-over-year increase was 2.2 percent. In Oakland, a one-bedroom unit typically rented for $1,710 last month, a two-bedroom for $2,150. Month-over-month, the increase was 1.2 percent, while June rents were up 2.8 percent from the year before. In San Francisco, a one-bedroom fetched $2,420 and a two-bedroom cost $3,040. There was a small boost of less than 1 percent on a month-over-month basis, but San Francisco’s rents actually were down slightly year-over-year, by just under 1 percent. Get top headlines in your inbox every afternoon. Sign up for the free PM Report newsletter. If any of these numbers come as a surprise, that’s because ApartmentList.com has altered its methodology “to provide more accurate rent estimates and avoid luxury bias in private listings,” explained Andrew Woo, data scientist for the website. Its December report had indicated a median monthly cost of $4,550 for a two-bedroom flat in San Francisco and $2,500 for a two-bedroom in Oakland. Rents have not tumbled drastically in the time since, Woo explained. In fact, with the exception of San Francisco’s small year-over-year decrease, rents have increased across the region. The latest numbers, however, reflect the website’s adjustment in methodology. Several other numbers jumped out of the report — for instance, one showing that a two-bedroom in Fremont ($3,550) cost more than one in San Francisco, another showing that a two-bedroom in Cupertino ($5,040) was pricier than similar apartments anywhere else in the region. Woo explained: “In smaller cities, for example, Cupertino, rentals and neighborhoods tend to be more homogeneous, whereas in larger cities like Oakland rents vary more between neighborhoods, often resulting in lower median rents. Additionally, a two-bedroom in Fremont may be more spacious than a two-bedroom in San Francisco, resulting in a higher rent price.”

Menlo Park fire district may fund $350K for pedestrian signal

Safety measure outside a fire station would provide missing link for bike routes crossing Middlefield Road A pedestrian-activated traffic signal should be installed near Fire Station 1, the Menlo Park Fire Protection District board tentatively decided last week. At its June 20 meeting, the board agreed to fund up to $350,000 for a signal at 300 Middlefield Road, though it still needs to discuss the plan with city officials. The signal will be a HAWK (High-Intensity Activated crossWalK) beacon, similar to one approved last year outside Station 3 at Almendral Avenue near El Camino Real in Atherton. The new signal will remain dark until activated by a pedestrian, bicyclist or the fire district; its beam will extend 300 feet along Middlefield to allow cyclists to move from Santa Monica Avenue across Middlefield to Linfield Drive while vehicles are stopped. Jonathan Weiner, a member of the city’s Complete Streets Commission, and resident Jen Wolosin brought the idea to fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman. They asked the district to partner with the city to acquire the beacon, which would make it safer for people east of Middlefield to access Burgess Park, downtown, schools and other parks. Wolosin, who is spearheading a community school safety effort called Parents for Safe Routes, said the Menlo Park City School District told her 170 to 190 Hillview Middle School students would use the new route. Weiner said the current blinking crosswalk at Linfield presents “the illusion of safety.” The new signal, on the other hand, would amount to “multiple crosswalks … giving pedestrians a lot more room without feeling intimidated by cars that are just a few feet away.” David Lehman, a 40-year Menlo Park resident, said he received a concussion and a bruise to his brain after he was hit by a vehicle while riding his bike from Santa Monica to Linfield in July 2015. “I’ve crossed that intersection thousands of times (with) traffic often heavy and moving fast, and drivers seem distracted and in a hurry,” he said. “It’s absolutely not safe to assume cars will stop” at the crosswalk. At the meeting, Schapelhouman touted Weiner and Wolosin’s “common sense approach” to improving safety along a stretch outside the fire station where firefighters have had to use the Jaws of Life apparatus to extract people from cars and where at least one pedestrian has been killed. “We fight people trying to insert bicycle routes in places that they shouldn’t be,” he said. “I rarely deal with something that was so easy, so simple and so straightforward in approach.” The new signal would also benefit the fire station. Board President Peter Carpenter said the beacon would allow fire engines to leave the station without waiting for traffic or pedestrians “to get out of their way.” The board also directed the fire chief to look into the possibility of implementing HAWK beacons outside additional fire stations, where feasible. The board didn’t approve the funds June 20, but instead authorized Schapelhouman to meet with city officials to negotiate sharing the costs for the new signal. The project can’t proceed without the city agreeing to do an engineering design for it. A staff report accompanying the discussion only authorized paying half the expected cost, at $175,000. Carpenter suggested the district fund the total cost, with the stipulation that the city reimburse it with the other $175,000 later. “If we wait for them to put it in the budget, it will take another 16 months,” he said. “This will have to come back to the board to approve an actual amount.”

Tech-engineering high school being built in Menlo Park

The Sequoia Union High School District has begun construction on a new $51 million public high school focusing on technology, innovation, design and engineering in eastern Menlo Park. The TIDE academy is set to open with 100 ninth graders in fall 2019. When fully enrolled, it is expected to serve 400 students from southern San Mateo County. It will be the first new district-run high school built in the East Palo Alto-Belle Haven area in 60 years. Since Sequoia closed its Ravenswood High campus in East Palo Alto in the late 1970s, most high school students east of Bayshore have been bused to schools across the freeway. The 45,000-square-foot building at 150 Jefferson Drive will have flexible learning spaces, including a makerspace shop, a coding lab and a design lab and a green roof. The campus is funded by proceeds from voter-approved bonds. The district also will apply for state bond funds.

New superintendent takes over in Sequoia High School District

Mary E. Streshly will take over Saturday as superintendent of the Sequoia Union High School District. She succeeds James Lianides, who is retiring. Streshly, who has been assistant superintendent for educational services in the Campbell Union High School District, was selected from among 40 applicants following a nationwide search. She has worked as a teacher, coach and administrator, and has served in Half Moon Bay, San Francisco and Southern California as well as at the Sequoia’s District’s Sequoia High School. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of California-Berkeley, a master’s from San Diego State University, and a doctorate from San Francisco State University. She will earn $240,500 annually, with a 2.5 percent annual pay increase with a satisfactory review. The district serves 9,000 students in four comprehensive high schools, Middle College, one charter school and one continuation school, all in southern San Mateo County.

City of San Carlos Public Safety Fair

National Night Out Returns August 1st

6/22/2017 National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, better places to live. The City of San Carlos encourages all residents to participate in this unique community event! National Night Out is a wonderful way to meet neighbors you may not know, and form stronger connections with those you already do. In addition, residents have a chance to meet and get to know the men and women of the San Carlos Police and Fire Departments who serve our community.

Home Is Where The Heart Is

What We Can All Do For Fire Safety

Follow the Guidelines We should all follow the guidelines found in this brochure. In most cases these guidelines are part of the Uniform Fire Code. These codes are law. These codes are intended to help prevent fires from starting and protect your home in the event of a fire. It is very important to understand that by following these codes you give the firefighter a better chance of saving your home. The Fire Department has put together this brochure so that you can greatly increase the chance of your home surviving a major fire. Other Fire Safety Tips for You and Your Family Install and maintain smoke detectors. Install a chimney spark arrestor to prevent roof fires. Practice a home fire escape plan. Keep lighters and matches out of the reach of children. Don't use fireworks. They are illegal in the areas served by the San Carlos Fire Department. Be fire smart, practice fire safety.

Where to Celebrate 4th of July

http://thedailynews.ca.newsmemory.com/ Where to celebrate the 4th of July with friends BY JOHN ORR Daily News Staff Writer Independence Day is Tuesday, with celebrations planned in many places on the Peninsula. A list: Los Altos ■ Glorious Fourth Celebration, Shoup Park, 400 University Avenue. Music, food, games and more, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/LosAltos4th Los Altos Hills ■ Ninth annual parade steps off at 10 a.m. from Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road. Parade ends at Gardner Bullis School, where there will be beverages and watermelon. No fossilfueled vehicles or horses. For more information, call Sarah Robustelli at 650947-2518 or email srobustelli@ losaltoshills.ca.gov. Menlo Park ■ Parade starts at 11:45 a.m. on Santa Cruz Avenue and goes to Burgess Park. Decorate a bike, trike, wagon, golf cart or float to be part of it. ■ Celebration noon to 2:30 p.m. at Burgess Park, with music, games and more. Free admission but $7 for activities. Buy wristbands in advance at Arrillaga Family Gymnasium, 600 Alma. Burgess Park is at 701 Laurel St. For more information, call 650-330- 2200. Mountain View ■ Shoreline Lake is offering barbecue meals for sale from 11:30 a.m. till 6 p.m. Rental watercraft are available for viewing fireworks; call 650-965-7474. Picnic baskets available for pre-order by calling 650-965-1745. ■ Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular, with San Francisco Symphony, at Shoreline Amphitheatre. 8 p.m. Includes tribute to 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love by Nicole Lizee with vocalist Storm Large; also, music by John Williams and patriotic music. Conductor Edwin Outwater. $16-$139. livenation.com Palo Alto ■ 35th annual Summer Festival and Chili Cook-off. Noon to 5 p.m. at Mitchell Park, 600 East Meadow Drive. Music, dancing, children’s activities, food vendors, and more. For more information, visit http:// www. cityofpaloalto. org/gov/depts/csd/events/ chilicookoff.asp or call 650329-2350. Redwood City ■ Pancake Breakfast, Marshall Street Fire Station, 7:30 a.m.- 10:30 a.m. ■ 5K race starts at 8 a.m. downtown. http:// www.paraderun.org/ ■ Parade steps off at 10 a.m. downtown ■ Festival begins at 1 p.m. on Hamilton Street downtown ■ Tribal Blues Band, 7-9:15 p.m. at Port of Redwood City. Food trucks. ■ Fireworks at about 9:30 p.m. Public viewing area along the waterfront off Seaport Court. Come early for very limited parking at Marina and Portside. No alcohol, no pets, no barbecues. Bring a blanket. For more information, visit http://www.parade.org/ Twins, Chase and Blake Affrunti, 6, represent the Santa Clara Valley T-Bird Club in the annual Fourth of July parade in Redwood City in 2013. It is considered the largest Independence Day parade in Northern California. Gary Reyes/Bay Area News Group Friday, 06/30/2017 Pag.A12Copyright Terms and Terms of Use