A debate on the redevelopment of three car parks in the city center in Menlo Park highlights the wider housing crisis in the County of San Mateo, opposing affordable housing defenders to business owners fearing the loss of income due to the reduction of parking.
With a deadline of March 31 for the proposals of the developers, city officials face pressure from state housing mandates and local business owners concerned with economic impacts. Even before specific plans of more than 480 affordable dwellings were revealed, the two parties threatened legal action.
Save Downtown Menlo Park, a professional group, has collected more than 3,450 signatures in an online campaign and collected more than $ 130,000 in legal costs to block the project.
The owner of the city center, Kevin Cunningham, a principal organizer, said that the city’s decision had deepened the existing frustrations among downtown companies concerning the city’s economic climate. He suggested other housing sites, such as the Civic Center with two houses of houses and close enough to the Caltrain station, to avoid disturbing parking in the city center.
“A business owner said that (the parking problem) is not the only reason he leaves, but he had a lot of frustrations with the city lately,” said Cunningham. “He said he didn’t even want to see how it takes place and is so frustrated to do business in the city center that the decision to continue these lots was the tilting point.”
The deputy director of the city of Menlo Park, Stephen Stolte, the sole person in charge of the city to respond to a request for comments, did not comment on the in progress debate, but stressed that no commitment to development had been made.
“The City has published a request for qualifications (RFQ) so that the developers submit their experience, their ideas and their approaches for development on Plazas 1, 2 and / or 3 parking, Stolte said in a statement sent by email to this press organization. “No official plan has been submitted.”
This local conflict reflects the wide struggle in the bay region to build affordable housing.
According to the California Department of Housing and Community Development, the County of San Mateo, which houses Meta and numerous technological and biotechnological companies, leads the region of the bay to the courts of respect for the Housing Act.
Menlo Park’s housing element, approved in 2023, provides nearly 3,000 units by 2031. In the Bay region, cities must build at least 442,000 units to meet demand, according to the association of Bay Area Governments.
The state has increased the attention of cities that did not comply.
Last year, the Portola Valley housing element nearby was awarded, risking the “manufacturer’s remedy”, which allows developers to bypass local zoning if 20% of the units are affordable. Non -compliant cities like Menlo Park are also likely to lose state and federal subsidies.
Sustainable housing lawyer Jordan Grimes de Greenbelt Alliance said that even 3,000 units in Menlo Park were a “drop in the bucket” but essential to combat the shortage of housing.
“Menlo Park has added tens of thousands of jobs in the last decade since Facebook has taken root in the city and added very few new houses,” said Grimes. “So he created this really extreme shortage.”
According to data from the American census of 2023, around 420,000 people go to the County of San Mateo to work. The average price of houses is $ 2.6 million, making it one of the most inaccessible places to live in the country.
The opponents, including Cunningham, reiterated that they were not against new housing but suggested alternative sites such as the Civic Center nearby or the USGS site, about 1.2 mile from there, because better adjustments for development.
However, a city staff report said the Civic Center and other parks were excluded to preserve green spaces and community gathering areas.
Jenny Michel, professional of commercial real estate and defender of affordable housing, stressed the importance of a site in the city center for workers.
“Menlo Park is one of the few cities actively promoting housing production,” said Michel, from Menlo Park and former homeless teacher, recognizing the efforts of the city. “However, all affordable accommodation is concentrated in Belle Haven, on the east side of Highway 101.”
Belle Haven is a historically bad district bordering East Palo Alto. Michel stressed that state law affirms that cities must ensure that everyone has equal access to housing by building in “resource -rich areas”.
“What is missing is not only low-income housing, but all types of housing to meet different demographic needs, such as the elderly, disabled, young families and those who seek to extend their families,” she said.
Most local workers in the city, especially non -technical workers, do not live in Menlo Park, noted Michel.
“I know security agents, maintenance staff and other service workers who go as far as the County of El Dorado, leading up to three hours in each direction,” she said.
While acknowledging that its staff would benefit from affordable accommodation, the owner of the coffee bar, Greg Buchheister, has echoed the concerns concerning the impacts of construction on his business, even with the understanding that the parking space reductions could be temporary.
“When you talk about affordable housing that bring more customers, you must also consider the commuters who come to downtown Menlo Park,” he said. “This is not a place where you can simply walk everywhere – people working on Sand Hill Road or in nearby offices must stop quickly, have a coffee and go. Move the parking in a garage creates a barrier with which many will not take care of.”
He agreed with the suggestion of Save Downtown Menlo Park to locate the housing projects far from areas dependent on the rapid turnover of customers.
While the proposals progressed after the deadline on Monday, Grimes minimized concerns about the loss of parking.
“The development of car parks will include new public car parks-it is not as if the city would abolish the entire car park in the city center,” he said.
Michel replied that companies and customers will adjust, citing the example of parking garages used on California avenue in downtown Palo Alto.
“There will be a parking lot. It will be a progressive approach,” said Michel. “People may have to walk a block for a few months, but it’s okay. If they really like to shop in your store, they will always buy there. ”
By putting the fracture, Michel stressed the importance of recognizing the gravity of the crisis and engaging in a productive dialogue.
“The ultimate objective is economic stability and dynamism – not only for employers and businesses, but also for workers and local residents. From my point of view, it is a win -win for everyone,” said Michel.
California Daily Newspapers
