Dear Planning Commission Members -
I am a 53-year-old Menlo Park resident, and have lived here in this city since 1991. (I grew up in San Mateo and attended
Stanford, then Santa Clara Law School, and settled in Menlo Park shortly after graduating from law school, so have been a "true
local" most of my life.)
I am married to Mark Knox and we have raised all 5 of our children here - they have all attended Oak Knoll Elementary School,
Hillview Middle School, and Menlo-Atherton High School.
In addition, I have kept my business local as well; my company Argonaut Capital Corporation has its office downtown Menlo Park at
659 Oak Grove Avenue.
I am writing to lend my STRONG SUPPORT for the new plans for The Guild Theatre, as I understand you will be meeting in a week to
discuss the proposal. The proposal for its use as a center for local arts, music and entertainment, is sorely needed in this town.
I am a musician myself, having grown up playing the cello and piano, then picked up the violin, bass guitar, guitar and vocals as
an adult, and I really believe strongly in the arts for ALL AGES. I was in a local adult band a few years ago, Loose Gravel, and
we played downtown Menlo Park at the street fair in the summer, but we never had a place to play locally (had to go to the Pioneer
or sometimes Freewheel in the patio). It really is a shame that we have to go to Redwood City, Mountain View, Woodside, or San
Carlos to play or hear live music. Why not take this rare opportunity to turn an iconic building like the Guild into a special
place for Menlo Park to showcase the arts? What a fabulous development that would be for our city and all of its residents, not to
mention the tax revenue and boon to our local restaurants, etc.
I have known and been a personal friend of Drew Dunlevie's, and know him to be an honest and hard-working person with the utmost
of integrity. We could not be in better hands as we move forward the the New Guild plans.
Feel free to contact me with any questions. I am wholeheartedly in support of the new plan for the Guild, as proposed by the
nonprofit Peninsula Arts Guild, and truly hope that this Board has the vision to approve it.
Sincerely,
Laurie Knox1870 Oakdell DriveMenlo Park, CA 94025home: 650-327-1398
Laurie Onderdonk Knox, Esq.
President
Argonaut Capital Corporation
659 Oak Grove Avenue, Suite 203
Menlo Park, CA 94025-4317
phone: (650) 494-4289
fax: (650) 752-6468
