A Thriving Downtwon
We love our downtown - for what it is, and for what it can be.
Our City Council believed that housing in the parking lots would be good for the downtown. But the busineesses disagree- see this plea - and the risk of losing convenient parking is causing them to not sign leases.
The Almanac guest opinion below offers a better path forward.
Downtown Menlo Park – There’s a Lot to Lose
Some claim our downtown is suffering - and that the cure is to fill the parking lots with housing to create "foot traffic." Indeed, this argument was used by city officials to justify adding the downtown plazas to the City's housing plan.
But anyone who walks downtown can see the truth: restaurants are busy, sidewalks are lively, and the parking lots are full.
Even regional press has noticed the upswing. In May [2025], the San Francisco Chronicle ran this headline about us: “Forget San Francisco. Restaurants see ‘huge opportunity’ in this quiet suburb.” This year alone, four new restaurants and bars are opening on Santa Cruz Avenue.
And residents are stepping up. The Downtown Menlo Fund (menlofund.org) is a nonprofit recently created by people who love Menlo Park. It’s bringing the community and resources together to improve our streetscapes, enhance public spaces, and support local businesses - proof that our community believes in its downtown and is investing in it.
Our downtown is rebounding. The question is whether City Hall will nurture this progress … or derail it.
The vacancies can be filled
Why do vacancies linger amid this recovery? A burdensome permitting process, overdue maintenance, and the looming threat of losing parking lots have all cast a cloud over the downtown — discouraging lease renewals and new ventures.
And there’s another factor: outdated zoning. City Hall still forbids anything but retail along the ground floor of Santa Cruz Avenue. As a result, neighborhood-serving businesses like fitness studios, art workshops, and wellness spaces are turned away.
Today’s thriving downtowns offer an array of services, not just retail and restaurants. Look at Los Altos: several years ago they faced the same vacancy problem. When they loosened zoning rules, storefronts filled, and their downtown came back to life. Menlo Park can do the same.
Convenience matters
People come to downtown Menlo Park because it’s welcoming and convenient: easy to reach, easy to park, easy to gather. The ability to run downtown for a quick errand or an impromptu meet-up is one reason Menlo Park is such a desirable place to live.
But convenient access isn’t just a luxury for residents - it’s essential for businesses. According to the 2022 Menlo Park Downtown Market Study, our 200 small businesses serve a trade area of 370,000 people within a 20-minute drive. If parking becomes difficult, those customers will simply go elsewhere. And when our businesses lose their customers, we will lose our businesses. The “foot traffic” from people living in the parking lots will do little to stop the exodus.
The people of Menlo Park understand all this. That’s why thousands signed the Citizens Initiative which would give residents a vote on how the plazas are used. Residents support affordable housing for teachers, service workers, and seniors. But they believe there are better locations that can meet the same housing goals without undermining the very amenities that residents and visitors depend on.
We need a solid foundation
To flourish, downtown Menlo Park needs basic care, not open-heart surgery. It’s time for the City to get back to fundamentals.
Here’s how:
1. Maintenance - Fix pavement, repair lighting, refresh signage, add wayfinding, and keep sidewalks clean.
2. Beautification - Add planters, shade, native landscaping, public art, and small amenities that make strolling pleasant.
3. Modernization - Update zoning and streamline permitting so entrepreneurs can bring a wider range of services to the community.
These simple, practical steps will greatly enhance the downtown experience and strengthen our local businesses. Stronger businesses will attract further investment, and our downtown will grow naturally from a solid economic foundation - not arbitrary state mandates.
Choose renewal, not revolution
Downtown Menlo Park is poised for renewal. But just as momentum is returning - new restaurants opening, community pride growing, and investments being made - the City is pushing a risky plan that could undermine that recovery.
We can have both the flourishing downtown we want, and the affordable housing we need. But we must be sensible about how we do it – because there’s a lot to lose.