Dear Council Members:
1/12/2026
At the next Council meeting, please explain to the voters why you are ignoring these warning signs, and why you are not seeking proposals at other locations.
Please read these warning signs published in The Almanac on 1/9/2026, pages 1 and 14
Re: "Housing Proposals"
The Almanacs Summary of Flaws:
1) Eden Housing: Did not bid because: Building a parking garage at NO COST to the city is "infeasible".
They are being honest!
2) Presidio Bay Ventures: 6 story parking garage that requires the city pay $15 million (or much more).
Note: 6 story Parking Garages are typically empty on levels 3,4,5&6 and do not "replace street level parking".
This Proposal is Only providing 140 Affordable apartments, not 345 which was required (that will not be good enough). Parking will be "Paid Parking".
(Fact: People will not pay to park while at ACE hardware, Chase Bank, Furniture stores or Amicis).
3) Alliant Communities: 345 affordable apartments, with only 114 parking spaces, that will be a big parking problem. Plus: No Washer and Dryer in each unit? Most people (especially with children) would NOT rent a new modern-day apartment with:
NO WASHER & DRYER!
4) Alta & Related CA: 253 parking spaces for 500 apartments will not work, AND: NO PLAN for paying for a parking garage?
If a parking garage is included, it will cost $63 million (or much more). They propose 4 Buildings that will be 7, 7, 8 and 9 stories tall. Tall buildings dont "esthetically" belong in downtown Menlo Park.
Say goodbye to a "sunny stroll in downtown Menlo Park".
That is just what The Almanac is reporting. The more serious problems are in the small print details of the final contracts. (Environmental issues, Fire Safety issues, increased Vacancy issues, Loss of tax income to the city, etc.)
Biggest problems now:
All these proposals FAIL to require at least 1,100 parking spaces to accommodate Both the businesses AND the tenants.
All these proposals fail to disclose that it will probably require 3 to 5 years of downtown business disruption.
The attractive "Architect drawings" do not show that: All these apartments open out to the unattractive backs of stores with Dumpsters, Delivery trucks, etc.
It is hard to sell that "on site view" to prospective tenants.
Finally: I believe the Ballot measure will PASS, AND the lawsuit will STOP the "Surplus Land issue", Because it is "Common Sense "!
Council Members: Start getting bids on OTHER LOCATIONS.
Michael DeMoss, Commercial Real Estate Attorney and Menlo Park Resident
Sent from my iPhone
