Councilmembers,
Id like to encourage the Council to revisit the continued closure of the
600 block of Santa Cruz Avenue to vehicle traffic.
What began as a response to COVID has become something of a pandemic
hangover, one that continues to create headaches for those of us who
frequent downtown regularly. While the closure may have served an important
purpose at the time, I think its fair to ask whether it still makes sense
today, particularly as we consider the future of our downtown.
A few considerations:
Traffic circulation: Closing a single block doesnt eliminate traffic; it
simply redirects it onto surrounding streets. As Ive previously shared
with the Council, drivers traveling west across El Camino Real increasingly
use Oak Grove and turn at Maloney to access the backside of Santa Cruz
Avenue. This creates unnecessary backups across ECR and puts additional
pressure on streets that were not intended to absorb that traffic.
A more thoughtful approach to teen gathering spaces: I recognize that the
area outside Walgreens and Starbucks has become a popular gathering spot
for teens after school, and I appreciate that they have somewhere to spend
time together. But I also worry that maintaining this space allows us to
backburner a much bigger conversation about the need for meaningful third
spaces for young people in Menlo Park. Our teens deserve something more
intentional, and I believe we can do better.
Preparing for downtown development: As we look ahead to the redevelopment
of our downtown parking lots, we need to be thinking proactively about
traffic circulation, construction disruptions, and maintaining convenient
access to local businesses. Reopening the full length of Santa Cruz Avenue
could provide greater flexibility during what will undoubtedly be a
challenging construction period. We should be doing everything possible to
make it easy for everyone to continue supporting downtown businesses.
Reopening the 600 block of Santa Cruz could serve as an early and important
step in developing a broader vision for downtown. As we look toward its
next chapter, I hope were willing to revisit decisions made under very
different circumstances rather than simply accepting them as permanent.
Thank you for your consideration and continued service to our community.
Julie Hartstein
