City of Menlo Park downtown development plan update
The City of Menlo Park has updated the downtown parking lots development project webpage with the presentation, video and poll results from the Dec. 11 virtual meeting co-hosted with Chamber San Mateo County, which drew over 120 participants.
Staff is currently developing updates to the project Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) at menlopark.gov/downtowndevelopment based on feedback received during the meeting and will continue to post new information as it becomes available leading up to the Jan. 14, 2025 City Council meeting.
A web form is also being developed to allow community members to provide feedback directly through the project webpage. The City Council will discuss the draft Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and disposition process for Parking Plazas 1, 2 and/or 3 at the Jan. meeting.
The City encourages interested community members to share information about this project with friends and neighbors who may wish to subscribe to receive similar email updates.
Nancy Patrice Davenport December 19, 2024 at 1:10 pm
Unaffordable housing has already been built, taking away businesses that added to the culture downtown. I can’t see less parking and more people will help with downtown businesses, because people in affordable housing won’t be able to afford anything, and people will shop elsewhere if they can’t find parking.
Is a parking garage next?
Don’t ruin downtown.
Kevin Kranen December 19, 2024 at 3:12 pm
@Nancy,
So where would you put the 423 housing units that you don’t want downtown ? The rules are:
* It has to use city land, so the city can guarantee the outcome. Developers won’t build 423 units of Very Low Income Housing voluntarily.
* It can’t be Sharon Park or Burgess or other Menlo Park park areas – the city ruled against that in 2022 based on angry citizens.
* You can’t choose not to do it in the next few years or builders will get to build whatever they want, wherever they want as long as it includes some housing. We already have one 39 story skyscraper coming to our town because of slow-rolling and NIMBYism on housing.
https://inmenlo.com/2024/11/15/city-of-menlo-park-deems-application-complete-for-willow-park-development-at-former-sunset-site/
Sam Marcox December 20, 2024 at 10:04 am
Thanks, Kevin—you nailed it. If not in these old parking lots, then where? Protect Our Downtown emphasizes that “alternative locations for affordable housing were not adequately considered” but doesn’t seem to identify these alternatives. Does anyone know why the large parking lot southeast of Santa Cruz Avenue between Menlo Avenue isn’t being considered? It’s contiguous and seems ideal for a single, large development.
Importantly, for all proposed locations, the plans can maintain the same number of parking spaces for downtown businesses, along with additional spaces for residents. Let’s stop using the excuse that downtown businesses will lose parking.