Good Afternoon,
Thank you in advance for giving us the opportunity to be heard.
My name is Veronica West, I am a Co-Owner along with my 2 sisters, Oralia Acquah and Vanneza Sandoval of Angela Menlo Park Boutique, which is located at 1129 Chestnut St, Menlo Park, CA 94025. We would like to share our concerns regarding the proposed low-income housing project that is planned to be built directly in front of our business.
We fully recognize and support the need for affordable housing in our community. It is an important issue that needs to be addressed to endure that all residents have access to safe affordable places to live. However, we have very serious concerns about the location of this project, specifically how it will impact our business. Our boutique relies on visibility and foot traffic, which is already challenging given the current retail environment. The construction of a large housing complex directly in front of our storefront could negatively affect both the aesthetic appeal and accessibility of our business. The increased traffic, noise, and potential disruptions from the construction could further harm our ability to attract customers and operate smoothly.
We also have concerns about the potential impact on the surrounding area. Our boutique is part of a larger community of small businesses that contribute to the character and vibrancy of this neighborhood. We fear that the development could change the character of the area in ways that may not be conductive to the success of local businesses. Additionally, we are worried about the strain on infrastructure, including parking, which could become more difficult for both our customers and residents in the new development.
Again, we are not opposed to the idea of low-income housing, but we would like to ask if there are any alternative locations that could be considered for this development, where the impact on local businesses could be less severe.
We appreciate your time and consideration of our concerns. We hope we can find a way to balance the important need for affordable housing with the need to protect the viability of small businesses like ours that are an integral part of this community.
Best,
Veronica West
Oralia Acquah
Vanneza Sandoval
Angela Menlo Park
1129 Chestnut St.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 323-7410
