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🏠 New Housing and Storage Coming to San Mateo

🏠 New Housing and Storage Coming to San Mateo

Converting former businesses to storage and housing, plus the aloha festival and summer concerts!

Greg Kemper
August 06, 2026

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Good morning neighbors!

Welcome to this week’s San Mateo Scoop! We’ve got new developments for storage and housing, as well as a Robotics Fair, Aloha Festival, paint and sip, and summer concerts!

Let’s get to it!

In this week’s edition:

City Updates: Former office spaces turning into housing and storage
Events: Robotics Fair, Aloha Festival, paint and sip, and summer concerts

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Community Rallies to Support Foster City Fire Victims Ahead of School Year

With dozens of families displaced after a massive six-alarm fire tore through a condo complex on Sea Spray Lane on August 2, a San Mateo high school is stepping up just days before classes resume. The Hillsdale High School Community Closet is hosting an urgent donation drive this Thursday, August 6, from 1 to 5 p.m. in the school's Alameda parking lot, after organizers said their inventory of clothing and essentials has run critically low.

The blaze destroyed roughly 50 units at the Spinnaker Cove complex and displaced more than 150 residents, according to the San Mateo Daily Journal. No residents were injured and all pets made it out safely, though four firefighters suffered minor injuries, and because parking sat beneath the units, many families also lost their vehicles. The Community Closet is open to anyone affected by the fire, including adults, and is especially seeking gently used or new clothing in all sizes, toiletries, hygiene products, new socks and underwear, and school supplies ahead of the August 12 first day of school. It's a fast, tangible way for Peninsula neighbors to help local families get back on their feet. Read more here.

SweatHouz is now open in Downtown San Mateo

A new wellness destination has arrived in downtown San Mateo with the opening of SweatHouz San Mateo Contrast Therapy Studio at 19 N. B Street. The studio specializes in contrast therapy, offering private suites equipped with an infrared sauna, cold plunge, and vitamin C shower designed to promote recovery, improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and support overall wellness. Guests can book individual sessions or choose from several monthly membership options, making it accessible for everyone from athletes to those simply looking to unwind after a busy day. The opening adds another health and wellness option to the growing mix of businesses in downtown San Mateo.

Historic PG&E Buildings in San Mateo Headed for New Life as Storage Units

San Mateo has approved plans to convert three historic 1930s-era PG&E service buildings at 922-980 S. Claremont St. into self-storage space, a notably different kind of project compared to the office and housing conversions dominating recent development news in the city. The buildings, which most recently housed auto repair shops, will retain their original industrial character, including existing windows, corrugated metal paneling, and roll-up door patterns, according to city planning staff. It's a relatively low-key project by San Mateo standards, but it preserves a piece of the city's early utility infrastructure history while giving residents a practical new storage option. For neighbors near South Claremont Street, it means construction activity in the coming months, but ultimately a repurposed, better-maintained set of buildings rather than a teardown. Read more here.

Former GoPro Campus on Clearview Way Cleared for Major Housing Conversion

San Mateo's Planning Commission has given the green light to a major redevelopment that will transform the office campus housing GoPro's headquarters, located on Clearview Way near the College of San Mateo and Highway 92, into 222 for-sale homes. The project, submitted by Harvest Properties, will demolish six existing office buildings on the roughly 22-acre hilltop site to make way for 149 townhomes and 73 single-family homes, with roughly 15% designated as affordable housing. GoPro's lease at the site runs through this year. The conversion is part of a broader wave sweeping San Mateo, where sluggish office demand and pressure to meet state-mandated housing goals (at least 7,015 new units by 2031) have pushed several commercial properties toward residential redevelopment, including sites on O'Farrell Street and South Amphlett Boulevard. Read more here.

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Kusan Bazaar in San Mateo

2727 S El Camino Ste H, San Mateo

Kusan Bazaar is a specialty grocery and café that showcases the flavors of Central Asia, offering a unique selection of imported foods and freshly prepared dishes. Visitors can browse shelves stocked with international pantry staples, spices, sweets, teas, and frozen specialties before stopping for house-made meals inspired by Uzbek and surrounding regional cuisines. Menu favorites include savory pastries, grilled meats, rice dishes, soups, and traditional baked goods that reflect the area's rich culinary heritage. The combination of marketplace and eatery provides an opportunity to explore ingredients and flavors that are less commonly found elsewhere on the Peninsula.

Almondette in Burlingame

1308 Burlingame Ave. Burlingame

Almondette is a dessert café specializing in handcrafted French-inspired pastries and beautifully decorated cakes with Asian influences. The menu features delicate cream cakes, flaky croissants, fruit tarts, macarons, cheesecakes, and specialty drinks, all made with an emphasis on light flavors and elegant presentation. Seasonal desserts and custom celebration cakes are also a highlight, making the shop a popular stop for birthdays and special occasions. Its rotating selection of baked goods means there's often something new to discover with each visit.

We do our best to verify dates/locations of events, but please independently verify before attending as details are subject to change

🎶 Music in the Park | Burlingame | Washington Park | 8/07 | more
Pack a picnic and enjoy a free evening of live music at this longtime Burlingame community tradition.

🎤 Summer Concert | Foster City | Leo Ryan Park | 8/07 | more
Bring a blanket and settle in for a free outdoor concert at scenic Leo Ryan Park.

🧸 Imagination City Open Play | San Mateo | Hillsdale Mall | 8/08 | more
Let the kids explore hands-on, imaginative play at this interactive indoor play space.

🌺 Bay Area Aloha Festival | San Mateo | Event Center | 8/08 & 8/09 | more
Celebrate island culture with two days of live hula and Hawaiian music, 'ono food, arts and crafts, and a keiki corner at this 31st annual free festival.

🤖 Robotics Fair | San Mateo | Event Center | 8/08 & 8/09 | more
Get hands-on with the future at this two-day robotics and AI expo featuring 50 global teams, the Lobster Cup competition, and expert talks from Stanford, NVIDIA, and Google.

🎶 Summer Stage: Lizzy & the Triggermen | Woodside | Filoli | 8/09 | more
Kick off Filoli's Summer Stage series with vintage vibes and a modern edge as Lizzy & the Triggermen take the outdoor stage at sunset.

🎒 Back to School Swap | San Carlos | 1245 San Carlos Ave Ste. E | 8/09 | more
Swap, donate, or pick up free gently-used school supplies at this eco-friendly community event — no registration required.

🥩 Meat Your Gains: The Meat Wagon | San Carlos | Fullsterkur | 8/09 | more
Fuel up with quality meats straight from the source at this popular mobile butcher pop-up.

🎶 Summer Stage: Mustache Harbor | Woodside | Filoli | 8/10 | more
Set sail for yacht rock and smooth-sailing nostalgia with Mustache Harbor at this sold-out Filoli performance.

🎶 Summer Stage: Iam Tongi | Woodside | Filoli | 8/11 | more
Catch the unforgettable, breakout voice from American Idol as Iam Tongi performs live at Filoli (sold out).

🌱 Garden Safety for Older Adults | San Mateo | Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Community Center | 8/11 | more
Learn practical tips to garden safely and comfortably in this helpful workshop for older adults.

🍷 Paint and Sip | San Mateo | Pinstripes | 8/11 | more
Enjoy drinks, bites, and a guided painting session in a fun, social setting at Pinstripes.

🏓 Senior Hub Intro Pickleball Clinic | San Mateo | Beresford Tennis Court | 8/12 | more
Learn the basics of pickleball in a fun and supportive environment while connecting with others in your community.

🦜 Happy Birds | San Carlos | Hiller Aviation Museum | 8/12 | more
Watch talented parrots, macaws, and cockatoos dazzle with opera singing, animal impersonations, and more in this crowd-favorite bird show (Hawaiian attire encouraged!).