Hi Council Persons,
I am writing to express my concerns over the possibility of building housing on the land currently used for parking along the Santa Cruz Ave merchant corridor. The parking is essential for the vitality of the downtown businesses and the overall fiscal and social health of Menlo Park. There are numerous businesses like mine (Bow Wow Meow) that are reliant on easy access by the public utilizing vehicles. If we are to keep downtown vibrant with daytime driven businesses including hardware stores, grocery stores, pet stores, hair salons etc maintaining adequate parking is absolutely a necessity, without parking we will end up with empty storefronts which lead to a deterioration of the area. While building housing is an urgent matter and must be undertaken there are no doubt other options that would not be so risky to the downtown core and the businesses that bring so much to the community. Please save downtown and reconsider building housing in such a fragile place that carries so much risk and explore other alternatives that will better serve the both the residents and businesses of Menlo Park.
Thank you,
Mitchell Bearg
Bow Wow Meow
415-440-2845
