Dear Menlo Park City Council Members,
I am writing to express my strong support for the city’s thoughtful and much-needed plans to develop 100% affordable housing in downtown Menlo Park. I urge the Council to continue moving forward with these proposals and to focus on a positive, solutions-oriented discussion that recognizes the difficult tradeoffs required to address our community’s housing needs within the constraints set by state law and our Housing Element.
Based on my review of the RFQ proposals and my understanding of the city’s priorities, I would like to highlight the following key points:
• Maximizing Public Benefit: Public land should be leveraged to achieve the deepest possible levels of affordability and to address the most urgent housing needs. At the same time, incorporating a mix of affordability levels is important to support tenant stability and economic mobility over time.
• Strengths of Proposals:
• MidPen and Related/Alta both propose a mix of income levels, including very low-income units, and are committed to accepting Section 8 vouchers to ensure access for extremely low-income residents. They also plan to meet the city’s public parking requirements.
• PATH brings over 40 years of mission-driven expertise in serving individuals experiencing homelessness, with a proven track record in developing and managing extremely low-income housing.
• While I appreciate Presidio Bay’s achievements with the Springline project, their experience appears to be less aligned with the unique challenges of delivering 100% very-low-income housing, as reflected in their alternative proposal.
As you consider the proposals at your upcoming study session, I respectfully urge you to prioritize those that best meet the city’s deepest affordability goals and long-term community needs. Thank you for your leadership and commitment to making Menlo Park a more inclusive and equitable place to live.
Sincerely,
Kevin & Kathryn Kranen
35 Elmwood Place
Menlo Park, CA 94025
