City hears from opponents at meeting on plans to put public housing on downtown parking lots

"It's going to accelerate the decline of downtown Menlo Park," resident Kelly Blythe said. "Are you going to have enough new customers to counter all the customers that you've now alienated?"

Several people at the meeting pointed to the vacant stores downtown, saying they worry about the area. If the city moves forward, many of the parking lots would become housing, losing 556 parking spaces for 345 to 483 subsidized apartments.

Principal City Planner Tom Smith said plans for the project began in 2021, and the city notified residents in multiple ways. Some residents wanted to hear from the city why other options were not chosen.

Carmen Caricchio, who lives downtown, expressed concern saying this could affect the already 'stay do and owns' and shops that would actually have an appeal to pedestrians and have a really hard time getting permits.

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