As a long time shopper and diner in Menlo Park, I was devastated to learn that the City of Menlo Park is considering removing parking lots in order to build massive low-income housing projects. One of the reasons to visit Menlo Park is the relative ease of parking and being able to get large bulky items to ones car from stores such as Menlo Park Hardware. If I had to use a parking garage I would forgo shopping locally and go to a store such as Home Depot where there is lots of surface level parking. The same would be true for dining. I would go to a restaurant that provided easy parking. Many years ago I stopped shopping in Palo Alto due to parking issues and the loss of small and unique businesses. The same thing will happen to Menlo Park should massive housing be built. You will be left with a very poor selection of businesses and traffic will become more of a problem. There are a variety of new businesses built on the north east end of El Camino Real in Menlo Park short of Valpariso, that I would like to visit but dont because of the garage type parking issues. Say no to developers that are only interested in their own short term profit, and find more suitable locations on which to build the required affordable housing. Support the local merchants instead. Time will tell, but I suspect strongly that you will be the authors of the demise of downtown businesses in Menlo Park, of the type the majority of residents want, should you give in and approve the removal of subject 3 downtown parking lots.
Sincerely
Kenneth Knapp
61 Atherton Ave.
Atherton
