​​​

​​​HILLSDALE MALL - A BIG DEAL​

The Future of Hillsdale Mall & Our City

​

BHNA Board member Dana Sahae’s Guest Perspective in the San Mateo Daily Journal, Hillsdale Mall Redevelopment: Why San Mateo Needs to Pay Attention Now

​

Dana points out that "...potential impacts are significant. Traffic and infrastructure: Thousands of daily car trips will strain El Camino Real, State Route 92 Hillsdale Boulevard and neighborhood streets. Can schools, water, sewer and emergency services keep up? Will those services be properly funded? Neighborhood character: Ten story towers would dwarf nearby buildings and fundamentally change the area. Retail choices: Residents worry that an affordable grocery store – something we currently rely on – won’t be part of the plan...Without strong conditions of approval or a binding development agreement, San Mateo risks giving away too much and getting too little.”

 

​​Once resident concerns were made public, the staff at Reimagine Hillsdale began to publicly promote ideas of park space and Santana Row-like visions. A greater understanding is needed, perhaps by an oft-requested scale model since:

-  Santana Row has more than five times the amount of retail space than is planned for Hillsdale

- Santana Row is a low to mid-rise project and has 7 parks, whereas Hillsdale is only providing the minimum amount of open space required by the City.

​

Concerned residents can join Checkpoint Hillsdale via www.checkpointhillsdaleorg and/or email City Council at citycouncil@cityofsanmateo.org.

​

I THINK I CAN, I THINK I CAN

“When I joined the BHNA Board I had no idea how expansive my life would become…The relationships, collaboration, events and community joy have been so impactful.” Board member Tom Lease

​

Do you recall the Little Engine That Could? Once he thought he could do something, he did! If you think you can help support the Board, we’d love that! We want to ensure we do our best, but that should include fresh faces and ideas. You may think we are fine, just chugging along, but imagine how good we can become with YOU. Please contact us today to learn the various ways you can help, even with a busy schedule! Email YourBHNA@gmail.com.

​

(We’d like to thank our Board supporters who help us with membership and organizing our meeting rooms.  Thank you Noreen and Jan!)

​

OUR DISTRICT COUNCIL RACE IS THIS YEAR

2026 marks the kick-off for candidates campaigning to represent our community (District 5) starting in 2027 for a four-year stretch. The San Mateo Daily Journal has already reported that BHNA Board member Dana Sahae is running:

In San Mateo, Dana Sahae is gearing up to run against District 5 first-term incumbent Councilmember Adam Loraine. Sahae is a leader in Checkpoint Hillsdale, the grassroots the grassroots group challenging the massive Hillsdale Shopping Center redevelopment project.  Sahae is also is the daughter of the late Councilman Gary Yates, who served on the council from 1993 until his death from heart disease in 2000. She is a former staff writer for the Daily Journal. Loraine is the current mayor and came to the council as a close ally of then-Councilmember Amourence Lee.

​

With plenty of time for any other candidates to file and run, we’ll keep you posted as we learn more!

​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​