Dear City Council members
As you know I am a big advocate for pushing ourselves to see what Menlo Park can become.
I recently met with Drew Dunlevie and heard about an exciting proposal from the nonprofit Peninsula Arts Guild that would
revitalize the Guild into a multi-purpose venue for a broad range of arts and entertainment, including musical performances. I
understand that the proposal will retain programming for art films as well, which would preserve the current use for those
residents that prefer what the Guild offers today.
I have heard the Guild is struggling along with many single screen art houses hit hardestwith the rise of Netlix and alternative
forms of entertainment (witness the loss of the Park Theater).The last few times I went to a movie at the Guild the theater was
barely half full.
I know that the Aquarius theater in Palo Alto is fairing better, after a significant remodel and addition of liquor license for
beer and wine, and limited food menu. I do not know the current plans for the Guild, but understand The Guild is leasing
month-to-month which may not last.
Of course you have already shown that our City Council is looking for ways to energize our downtown, and also keep discretionary
entertainment dollars of our residents in our city. The addition of street side dining on SantaCruz and the urban park on Crane
street are moves that encourage new businesses like Madame Collette and CoffeeBar to locate in Menlo Park. We want to support our
local economy! So I am asking that you look seriously at this proposal from the Peninsula Arts Guild as something that will have a
lasting positive impact on our community.
From what I have heard, this will be the kind of place that A-list performers would consider playing "small gigs" between bigger
arena shows in SF and the peninsula. This project has solid backing, and so I do not think the project will cut corners or result
in a venue that is less than stellar.
Surely there will be complaints about potential traffic and parking issues. Traffic is created whenever you have something worth
driving to, so lets not promote vacant lots and sleepy venues in Menlo Park in order to avoid traffic. Most of the programming
will be after hours and weekends anyway so commute traffic will not be greatly impacted. And there is abundant parking across the
street behind the Charles Schwab building that is rarely used in the evenings or weekend.
It sounds like Menlo Park is only one of a small number of potential sites/communities for this project, so I hope that you will
move with purpose and vision on this one so it does not end up in another community. I have lots of friends and neighbors that
would spend more time and money at the Guild with live music and other performances, in addition to the art films currently shown.
If not we will most likely spend our entertainment dollars in RWC or Palo Alto, instead of supporting our own home tome.
Lets not let this one get away!
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Skip Hilton25 year resident of Menlo ParkFather of 3Tech ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒
