Menlo Park is seeking to develop several of its downtown parking lots into housing in order to comply with its state-mandated housing element. Their current plan would add 345 units of affordable housing, polarizing local residents.
The proposed developments have been highly contested within the community, with many residents worrying that already congested traffic will become unbearable with the influx of hundreds of more vehicles. Additionally, many students have voiced concerns that their morning commute to school will be impacted.
The proposed housing plan would add between 650 and 900 parking spots in multi-level parking garages on the sites of parking lots 1, 2, and 3, although many would be occupied by the vehicles of the new residents.
Menlo Together, an organization focused on housing, transportation, and environmental sustainability, supports the plan. “Having housing in a central location near a lot of services that is in a walkable area is something that is really good for transportation that allows people to live with less driving,” Menlo Together representative Adina Levin said.
She argued that while each family would likely have at least one car, their proximity to necessities such as a grocery store and pharmacy would mean they would have to drive less. “There would be fewer cars per household,” Levin said.
Levin focused on the Springline development along El Camino Real. She claimed that “half the parking spots were unused” at the development, totalling around 500 unused parking spaces at any given time. “We don’t have to build a parking garage, we already have the parking in the basement of Springline,” Levin said.
However, traffic could still be a concern during the construction of the parking lots. “It is a valid concern that there’s gonna be a need to manage the traffic flow during construction. That is important and the city should study and figure out how to manage the traffic flow,” Levin said.
Students critiqued the heavy traffic surrounding M-A in peak driving times. “In the mornings and evenings, there is a lot of congestion,” senior Elsa Teuteberg said. “I tend to avoid driving during those times around M-A, particularly Ringwood.”
Bikers were also frustrated about traffic congestion. “People are always rushing to get to school. They park on Ringwood and block the bike lanes,” junior Sarah Meyer, who bikes to school every day, said. “I think that the bike lanes could be improved because they’re so narrow. It’s not the safest bike route.”
The city voted to proceed with the RFQ, allowing developers to submit proposals on how to develop the site. No development will proceed until the city votes whether or not to designate the lots as surplus land.
“Cities like San Mateo and Redwood City have had systems like this for years and their communities support it,” Levin said.
