A Once In A Generation Opportunity for New Affordable Homes in Menlo Park

We have a once in a generation opportunity to create hundreds of new, affordable homes in downtown Menlo Park! To support the city’s plans to build new affordable homes on three city-owned downtown parking lots, we want Menlo Park’s city council to:

Maximize the number of affordable homes at the deepest level of affordability possible,
Encourage developers to take full advantage of state laws that streamline development of new affordable homes and allow flexible design, including increased height,
Identify strategies to support extremely low-income homes, including city funding to manage and operate deeply affordable homes,
Prioritize the approval and development of these homes,
Support a mix of community benefits that advance city priorities without imposing costly requirements that risk making the project infeasible.

Sign the Petition

How We Got Here

An old idea becomes an actionable and timebound plan.

Housing Element

This idea of housing over parking downtown originated years ago, after extensive community engagement about the future of downtown Menlo Park and has broad support.

Developing affordable homes on downtown city-owned parking lots became a specific city priority during the 2023-2031 Housing Element.

The Housing Element is a state-mandated process to plan for new homes and there are consequences to cities who do not comply. Menlo Park’s Housing Element was rejected twice by the state, until the city committed to develop at least 345 very-low income affordable housing units on city-owned downtown parking lot sites by the end of 2031.

Proposals

The City of Menlo Park is implementing the program to develop new affordable homes on our downtown parking lots, and as of March 2026, the City is evaluating three proposals to develop housing and improve public parking on public parking lots 1, 2, and/or 3 (the three lots north of Santa Cruz Avenue).

For more about the city’s program and process, see the city’s project webpage, and Menlo Together’s blog.

Oppose the Anti-Housing Ballot Measure

Despite the critical need for affordable homes and the unique opportunity of the downtown parking lot sites, opponents of new homes and improved parking are seeking to block progress by requiring voter approval for any improvements to the downtown parking lots. This November 2026, Menlo Park voters will decide whether or not to block new affordable homes and improved parking downtown.

Learn more about the anti-housing/bad-governance ballot measure, and join the campaign to defeat it this November.