Dear City Council and Staff,
I appreciate the financial review of the downtown development proposals for
the parking plazas as well as the recommendations put forth by City staff.
I fully support the Citys plan as set forth in the Housing Element to
redevelop the parking plazas and build the affordable homes we need to meet
our RHNA obligations and Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH)
obligations. Further, I support a revitalized downtown with modernized and
managed parking systems as well as improved safety and mobility
infrastructure to accommodate all users, including employees, folks with
disabilities, and those who walk and bike downtown.
As with all affordable housing projects, financing is going to present
challenges. Fortunately, there are multiple sources of funds available for
housing. And the staff report provides some creative and viable options for
closing the funding gap for a public parking garage. Paid parking, for
example, is common in most jurisdictions and seems a fair way to recoup
some of the up-front costs that the City might incur.
I urge Council to pursue solutions that focus on the goals of Program H4.G,
that enable affordable homes for our community members, and that keep us in
good standing with HCD. To that end, please select a developer who can
provide housing that: is affordable to people with incomes from 15% - 80%
AMI, serves a variety of households, and prioritizes people with
disabilities.
Respectfully,
Katherine Dumont
Menlo Park Resident
