On Tuesday, June 3, Menlo Park city council gave direction to take the next step toward building hundreds of new affordable homes downtown. The council voted to invite proposals from Alliant, MidPen, Presidio Bay, Related/Alta, Eden and PATH. Council asked for updates to the Request for Proposals, and added questions about property management designed to assess the quality and stability of experience for future residents, and questions about labor practices. And they added a call for one for one replacement of public parking.
At the meeting, supporters of affordable housing were a majority, including people who gave public comment and who quietly lifted signs supporting affordable homes downtown. The presence, comments, and letters in advance of the meeting showed that many Menlo Park residents and neighbors want to welcome teachers, caregivers, small business owners and public servants into the heart of downtown.
The story has press coverage in the local Almanac: Supporters and opponents weigh in on Menlo Park parking lot ballot measure, in the regional Mercury News: Menlo Park moves forward on turning parking lots into housing, and on KCBS television news.
If you want to add your name to the petition in support of new affordable homes downtown, and haven’t yet done so, you can add your name here!
