TO: Menlo Park City Council
from: Anne K. Kanerva
RE: please don’t replace downtown parking lots with high-density, low-income housing
Date: January 11, 2025
Dear City Council Members,
I am very concerned about the proposal to replace 3 downtown parking lots with
very high-density, low-income housing.
I cannot understand how these parking lots could honestly be declared “surplus” land, when they are heavily used, and usually filled close to capacity.
The impact of losing those parking lots on downtown businesses and shoppers would be negative, and the “village” atmosphere of downtown Menlo Park would be destroyed.
I have not seen any plan to replace the downtown parking lots, if the proposal goes forward. I have seen in a local newspaper, an estimate that building parking structures to replace the 3 parking lots could cost $30,000 to over $50,000 PER PARKING SPACE! This would probably lead to parking fees to pay for the building expenses. Downtown does not have parking fees or meters currently, and that helps to provide a friendly, welcoming, comfortable atmosphere. In addition, parking structures are considered by some people as unsafe or claustrophobic locations in which to be, as opposed to open streets or parking lots.
I have not seen any plans for handling the increase in traffic. It is already a congested area.
Surely there must be places to build affordable housing that would not create so many problems or cost as much as this proposal.
It seems to me that there are several better alternatives for creating more affordable housing, that are closer to META (Facebook) and other Bayfront office projects whose job expansion has caused a huge increase in the State’s housing mandate for Menlo Park:
Flood Park area
Menlo Veterans’ Administration (currently under-utilized)
Bayfront area
Vacant lots owned by the city, such as 1283 Willow Rd. at Ivy Dr.
I hope that city officials will not rush into implementing a proposal that could have negative, even disastrous consequences for Menlo Park residents, but that you will take the time to give thoughtful consideration to alternatives.
Sincerely,
Anne K. Kanerva
377 Santa Margarita Avenue
Menlo Park CA 94025
