Council to consider downtown parking lots for affordable housing

Published on November 25, 2024

The City Council is evaluating the potential development of affordable housing on Parking Plazas 1, 2 and 3, located north of Santa Cruz Avenue. This project stems from the City's state-certified 2023-2031 Housing Element, which identified the downtown parking lots as key sites to help meet local housing needs.

The proposal focuses on three specific parking plazas due to their size, shape, and proximity to transit. These sites were selected following a comprehensive feasibility study that evaluated physical characteristics, existing constraints and development potential of all eight downtown parking lots.

At its Nov. 19 meeting, the City Council began consideration of declaring the three parking plazas as exempt surplus land and authorizing the issuance of a request for qualifications from affordable housing developers. To allow additional time for community engagement, the Council continued the item to its Jan. 14, 2025 meeting.

The project seeks to balance multiple community priorities by creating at least 345 units affordable to very low-income households, maintaining public parking for downtown businesses and visitors, enhancing downtown vibrancy through thoughtful design and development and supporting transit-oriented housing near the Caltrain station.

Community members interested in this project can visit menlopark.gov/downtownhousing for the latest information and subscribe to project updates through the project webpage. Community members are also encouraged to attend the Jan. 14, 2025 City Council meeting to provide feedback and remain aware of next steps in the project.

Meeting details, including the start time and agenda materials, will be available at menlopark.gov/agendas approximately 72 hours before the Jan. 14, 2025 meeting.