Hello, City Council!!
I love that this project has below market rate (BMR) units mixed in with
the market rate units as required by law. It’s even better that the owner
is including even more BMR units than required! However, I am concerned
that the up to 154 even more BMR units are in a separate building. We have
learned over time that separate is not equal. That proved especially true
in education and when some people were not allowed to purchase homes in
some neighborhoods. It doesn’t seem right to put the additional BMR units
“over there” in the below market rate area of the property, which is
coincidentally on the busiest, least desirable corner. It seems like it
creates an area for second class citizens. Why not incorporate all of the
BMR units with the market rate units?
Also, there is only one parking spot for every two additional BMR units,
when there are 1.25 for every market rate unit and two for townhomes. That
creates a hardship for BMR car owners who may walk, bike or take public
transit to work but sometimes need their car to drive farther away to see
family and friends or for errands that are far from transit hubs. BMR
renters may also need cars or trucks for work at a higher rate than 1/2 per
unit. This seems like an undue hardship to inflict on future BMR residents.
I bet that some creative thinking can make their homes more substantially
similar to the market rate ones.
Thank you for taking these issues into consideration in planning for Menlo
Park’s future!
Kristen Leep
Menlo Park Preschool Teacher
36 Year Menlo Park Resident
5 Year Below Market Rate Renter
Sent from iPhone. Please excuse auto “corrections”.
