January 14, 2025
Dear City Council Members of Menlo Park
Our Parking lots have not been improved for decades. Re-striping, and maintenance have been done. Restaurants “took away” some customer parking, yet no acreage has been added since the 50’s!
My siblings and I do recall the dinner discussions with my parents that the parking lots had been paid for by assessments to the property owners. My family never owned real estate in downtown Menlo Park, though. We, the Ryan family, operated Menlo Park Hardware for 78 years on Santa Cruz Avenue. We have witnessed similar “Plans” to develop the parking structures. Thankfully, common sense prevailed.
* Freight trucks have a difficult time in all parking lots in Menlo Park.
* Service businesses bordering the parking lots would suffer through 1-2 years of construction.
* Businesses are just beginning to renew in Menlo Park, downtown. Construction will “Halter” their openings.
*
There are some large buildings in Menlo Park that are vacant. Please study the feasibility of these vacancies.
Please research the old records from the 1940’s-1960’s before pursuing this issue further.
Sincerely,
Kathleen (Susie Ryan) Lorist
Former Co-Owner of Menlo Park Hardware
Lifelong resident of Menlo Park
Niece of the first Menlo Park Treasurer
