Dear Council members:
As a long time Commercial Real Estate Attorney and General Partner in many Apartment and Office Building ownerships, with hands-on management experience.
I am respectfully warning you that the Parking Plans that the Developers are proposing are DEFECTIVE and will fail to succeed.
They may look good in drawings, but are inadequate in practice.
I have sent you photos of parking ramp usage in Palo Alto, showing you that ramp level above level 2 and below street level are NOT used.
Also, the State may waive the need for sufficient car parking spaces, but reality and logic disagrees:
This is a recent BANKRUPT apartment building that was built in San Jose (that did not provide adequate parking)
Important: READ THIS:
The Fay, a 23-story luxury residential tower located in downtown San Jose.
Opened in December 2024, the building became a focal point of local discussion regarding urban development and parking requirements. Here are the key details regarding its situation:
Parking Constraints: The Fay was constructed with a very limited amount of parking—fewer than one spot for every three apartment units. This was possible due to a 2022 California law that eliminated mandatory parking requirements for housing developments located within a half-mile of major public transit stops.
Impact on Occupancy: Two years after its opening, the building faced significant challenges with vacancy, reaching approximately 60% emptiness. City officials and critics have identified the lack of adequate on-site parking as a primary factor, noting that many prospective residents were unwilling or unable to give up their personal vehicles, particularly given the buildings high rental prices.
Financial Status: The project, which carried a $182.5 million construction loan, went into default in July 2025 and subsequently plunged into foreclosure.
In an effort to address the high vacancy, the city has pursued a "master lease" plan to offer the units as discounted housing for public employees; however, this has also been complicated by the parking shortage, as some of these prospective tenants would potentially have to park at City Hall, several blocks away.
Mayor Nash, and Council Members:
STOP !
The project your are considering is NOT FEASIBLE.
Michael DeMoss
Resident
Former member of the Menlo Park Finance and Audit Commission.
Sent from my iPhone
