El Camino Real Senior Housing is a new affordable senior housing community proposed at 1562 El Camino Real in San Carlos, providing 79 affordable apartments within a five-story building designed to foster connection, comfort, and sustainable living.

The project site is currently occupied by an existing 26-room hotel, which will be demolished to accommodate the new development. The design will preserve the two large existing trees along El Camino Real as part of a landscaped public frontage. The proposed building has a maximum height of approximately 53 feet and a gross floor area of 53,000 square feet.

The project embraces a modern, transit-oriented concept that eliminates private car parking in favor of public transportation and shared mobility options. Along the quiet rear alley, a dedicated drop-off zone and three EV parking spaces with chargers support paratransit, shared-ride, and mini-bus services, as well as a community owned EV car-share program for residents. A secure bike room at the entry plaza and visitor bicycle parking encourage active transportation, while commuter transit passes provided to residents promote the use of nearby bus and rail services along El Camino Real.

Architecturally, the building is composed of two vertical towers connected by a four-story central volume with a roof deck. The southern tower defines the main entry, which opens to a welcoming public plaza featuring a central tree, seating, and bicycle amenities, activating the streetscape and enhancing the pedestrian experience. A two-foot raised terrace along El Camino Real provides privacy for ground-floor units and creates a layered landscape edge that softens the building’s street presence. At the rear, the massing transitions into three distinct volumes separated by two planted courtyards, with the central portion stepping down to four stories to relate to the residential scale along the alley. The light sand-colored wood composite siding and light gray corrugated metal panels provide a refined, contemporary character,
establishing the project as a model for sustainable, community-oriented senior housing in San Carlos.

The development is exclusively residential and will be managed by a qualified affordable housing operator.