Development of downtown parking lots on agenda at January 14 Menlo Park City Council meeting

Join the January 14 Menlo Park City Council meeting to provide feedback and/or listen as City Council continues its review from November 19, 2024, to explore development on up to three of the City-owned downtown parking lots.

City Council will potentially take action on a declaration of Parking Plazas 1, 2 and 3 as exempt surplus land and a draft request for qualifications (RFQ) that prioritizes development of affordable housing and replacement public parking, and allows for a mix of uses such as ground-floor retail, commercial space and market-rate residential units.

This initiative stems from the City’s 2023-2031 Housing Element, which identified eight downtown parking lots as potential sites to help meet Menlo Park’s regional housing needs allocation. Specifically, Housing Element program H4.G outlines a plan to develop at least 345 affordable housing units on a combination of downtown parking lot sites.

There are petitions being circulated by both proponents and opponents of the development of downtown housing, and meetings in advance the City Council meeting are planned. Menlo Together, which supports housing development, is hosting a meeting at Mama Coco’s (1081 El Camino) at 4:30 pm on January 14. Opponents are holding a meeting, also on January 14, at 5:30 pm at the City Council Chambers.

To learn more about the types of development possible on the downtown parking lots, the Housing Element, replacement parking and more, review the FAQs.  You can also subscribe to project updates at this site.

Meeting details, including the start time and agenda materials, will be available at menlopark.gov/agendas approximately 72 hours before the Jan. 14 meeting.

Photo of downtown parking lot by Robb Most (c) 2018