Better Alternatives
For the Housing We Need
It’s still early in the 2023–2031 Housing Element cycle. We have till 2031 to issue permits - the actual construction does not need to be completed during that period. (See our Housing Element Primer.)
We do not need to cling to the uncertain downtown parking lots as the only option. We can easily amend our Housing Element - San Mateo just did it, when they removed downtown sites from their plan.
Below are several sites with more than enough capacity for the low income housing we need - without the environmental, logistical, legal, and economic pitfalls of converting the parking plazas.
Bohannon Industrial / Office Park
Size & Ownership: 24 acres | Private
Background: The owners of the northwestern portion of Bohannon Park have repeatedly told the City they want to redevelop the site for housing. In a December 6, 2022 letter, they wrote:
“…we also request that the City include the contiguous parcels located in Bohannon Park … which could be assembled and developed into a viable, multi-family village if the City creates the necessary densities, such as those established for the ConnectMenlo General Plan.”
Opportunity: Potential for a mixed-income neighborhood of hundreds of homes, adjacent to Marsh Manor shopping center, with direct freeway access and easy reach of Bayfront Park.
Note: The Housing Element does include some sites in Bohannaon Park, but not within the above area, which is the area the owner wants to redevelop.
Civic Center
Size & Ownership: 13 acres (not including recreational or Gatehouse) | City-owned
Background: A large section of the Civic Center consists of surface parking and very old buildings. It’s across the street from the train station, and a short walk to downtown.
Opportunity: The space from the surface parking alone exceeds the space of downtown plazas 1 -3, providing a viable alternative. Furthermore, this could be seen as an opportunity to either move or redevelop the old library, children’s center, and/or administrative buildings - all centered around the beautiful duck pond. (More here.)
333 Burgess Drive (Corporation Yard)
Size & Ownership: 2.35 acres | City-owned
Background: Public Works operations yard adjacent to the SRI campus.
Opportunity: If Public Works operations are consolidated elsewhere, this site could deliver new housing right next to Burgess Park and the library.
Note: Venice did exactly this, converting their maintenance yard to housing
SRI / Parkline
Size & Ownership: 62-acre campus | Private
Background: The Parkline project includes 800, of which 250 units will be affordable. This is significantly more housing that was originally counted on, and helps reduce the pressure to put housing in the parking lots.
Opportunity: The plan also calls for 713,000 sq. ft. of office space, plus another 287,000 sq. ft. which could potentially used for housing or commercial. That could be a significant amount of housing in addition the 800 units.
2400 Branner Drive
Size & Ownership: 2.9 acres | City-owned
Background: Located on Sand Hill Rd., across from Sharon Heights Shopping Center, this parcel contains a small park serving the Stanford Hills subdivision.
Opportunity: Reconfiguring the park northward and shortening Branner Dr. could free up 1.6 acres for housing while preserving park space. This site could provide housing for employees of Stanford University and Medical Center.
1283 Willow Road
Size & Ownership: 0.66 acres | City-owned
Background: Vacant parcel larger than Downtown Parking Lot 2 (0.56 acres). Belle Haven is identified in 2025 HCD data as at risk of displacement.
Opportunity: A small 100% affordable project here, with community input, could ease displacement pressures.
Summary
Together, these sites provide capacity for more than the 345 units currently slated for the downtown parking plazas - and they would provide much better living environments for our new neighbors in areas designed for residential growth, while preserving the parking infrastructure our downtown businesses depend on.