By: Julia Xia, Opinions Editor

In June 2023, High Street Residential submitted a proposal to Millbrae to demolish Office Depot and replace it with a six-story, 278-unit apartment building. 

What once was Office Depot will now become a large apartment complex, spanning 17,210 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, 228,802 square feet of residential, and around 84 feet tall. The apartment will have six stories, 278 units in total, with 26 dedicated to affordable housing. Two levels of interior parking will also be included in the construction. Besides the apartment building, there will also be a public plaza with seating and decorative plants and trees. 

While there is currently no estimated price for each of  the units, to accommodate low-income families who might want to buy, the 26-units will be set at a lower price. This will ensure that low-income families will have the chance to purchase an apartment without it impacting their overall financial situation too much. 

The demolition of Office Depot reflects the current trend in Millbrae to modernize or close off their older buildings. The Mr. Pickles in downtown Millbrae relaced with Ponyo Foods to the abandoned Lucky’s building; Millbrae is getting rid of the old and making way for the new. The city also seems to be prioritizing housing over recreation, with many of these buildings being replaced by apartments and affordable housing. 

With all these buildings being either abandoned or torn down, it prompts the question: what comes next for Millbrae’s infrastructure?