I am writing to request that the city council reconsider its decision to use downtown parking lots as sites for affordable housing. An Almanac article stated that the council and city staff opted to not move forward with housing development on the Civic Center "given the importance of green space and community space for all residents".
Since we residents were not asked to compare the relative importance of housing development at the Civic Center site vs the drastic development of our downtown, I challenge this assumption.
I, and many others, are willing to accept loss of the duck pond, etc., instead of loss of the current footprint of the attractive retail and dining spaces with their easy and quick accessibility with the current downtown parking lots. Whatever development options are presented for the parking lots, any of them will destroy the small village character of our downtown. Your choice to ignore the current merchants concerns about their future viability is very distressing, and has the potential to destroy what makes living in Menlo Park an enjoyable and sought-after experience.
Thank you,
Marjorie Stone
990 San Mateo Drive
Menlo Park
