Update on proposed plan to build affordable housing in Downtown Menlo Park

Here is an update on the City of Menlo Park’s project to develop affordable housing on a combination of downtown parking plazas 1, 2 and 3, located north of Santa Cruz Avenue. This initiative stems from the City’s 2023-2031 Housing Element, which initially identified eight downtown parking lots as potential sites to help meet Menlo Park’s regional housing needs allocation.

The City Council began its consideration of declaring the three downtown parking plazas as exempt surplus land and authorizing the issuance of a request for qualifications (RFQ) at its Nov. 19 meeting. To provide additional time for public outreach, the City Council voted to postpone until its Jan. 14, 2025. Council members Maria Doerr and Jen Wolosin voted to take action immediately while Mayor Cecilia Taylor, Vice Mayor Drew Combs and Council member Betsy Nash voted to delay any action on the proposal to January.

Meeting details, including the start time and agenda materials, will be available at menlopark.gov/agendas approximately 72 hours before the January meeting.

The latest project information is available at menlopark.gov/downtownhousing. Staff will continue to update the webpage as new details and opportunities for engagement are available.

The City encourages interested community members to share information about this project with friends and neighbors. Individuals can subscribe to the project email list at menlopark.gov/downtownhousing.