Posted by Igor, a resident of the Menlo Park: Downtown neighborhood, on Nov 17, 2009 at 1:56 pm

This is more about printing wealth for the Bohannon family. No other family in Menlo Park can ask for this privilege.

Posted by Same ol', Same ol', a resident of the Atherton: West of Alameda neighborhood, on Nov 18, 2009 at 11:15 pm

Can't our town get other folks, that think objectively and not for their little band of "no build, no growthers"? Aren't we getting tired of the same old message from Vince Bressler and Charlie Bourne, and why is Mr. Collacchi even around any more? It's time to change the tone. We've had a decade's worth of decay and delay in this town. These three individuals wouldn't like ANY type of improvement, it doesn't matter who's name is on the project, it's always the same old tune........."no build, no growth". Menlo Park is swiftly becoming a 2nd rate town.

Posted by clear view, a resident of the Menlo Park: other neighborhood, on Nov 18, 2009 at 11:26 pm

Actually, I am getting tired of the laissez faire/crony capitalism school of thought that says "lets give people like Bohannon whatever they want." Stating everything in black & white terms may be dramatic but it isn't very accurate. The fact is that we have had a decade of development and growth in Menlo Park, with new buildings all over town, from the Rosewood at the western edge of our city to the shopping mall on the eastern end. Bohannon's project isn't about improving the community, but rather, about breaking all the rules for the benefit of a very small number of people.

By the way, we are fortunate that Paul Collacchi still cares enough about Menlo Park to comment on developments. He knows more about the city than anyone else, and his input is insightful and valuable.

Posted by Same ol', Same ol', a resident of the Atherton: West of Alameda neighborhood, on Nov 19, 2009 at 10:26 am

C'mon "Clear View" you actually think that we have had a "decade of development and growth"??? Are you serious?! You've named two areas, two. I have a list an arm long of potential good development that has been thwarted in every way possible by the no growthers, so much to the point that our city IS suffering. The theater, the car dealerships, the Bohannon project, the Mattison project, the Derry project, every time the school wants to improve the schools, the revisioning project, etc., etc. Slowly but surely you alarmists are eroding the core of our town. Bohannon IS a developer, Bohannon IS trying to make money, but you fail to ever acknowledge that he has lived here for 50+ years, cares about his reputation, and is active in our community. HE wants to contribute. He is very ammenable to feedback, does listen and will compromise, I've seen it on several occasions. I am amazed the man has this much patience, but I'm not amazed that no other developer steps foot in our town! Please work to compromise, stop the alarming, exaggerated claims and HELP the city improve.

Posted by clear view, a resident of the Menlo Park: Downtown neighborhood, on Nov 19, 2009 at 11:21 am

Thanks for the labels, Same ol. They certainly help us take a big step toward the compromise you profess to want.

I didn't see the point of naming all the construction that has occurred since 2000, but the fact is that the schools are being renovated, most of us agreed that the Park Theater did not merit a $500,000 public handout, and Stanford is refusing to do anything with its vacant properties -- that's half the problem on El Camino.

A few years ago, Bohannon approached the city with a proposal for that very same property. That proposal was a scaled-down version of the current proposal, and for whatever reason, he took it off the table. To anyone with any negotiating experience, it's clear that his current proposal is a starting point because he expects that a savvy team of negotiators from the city will whittle his demands down to a reasonable level. I am afraid he may be overestimating the negotiating prowess of the city.

Again, try to step away from the black&white "either we accept his proposal 100% or we're doomed!" scenario. There is a wide range of possibilities and we would be foolish to opt for one that has a highly negative impact and very little upside.

Now, you can twist my words and call me names but I (and most people I know) do want to see development. However, it needs to be development that provides ongoing benefit to the city and the residents. Some of us have lived here a long time too, and we deserve no less.

Posted by same ol', Same ol', a resident of the Atherton: West of Alameda neighborhood, on Nov 19, 2009 at 11:59 pm

Ok, fair enough "clear view", no name calling. There are actually no names or words to describe what has continued to go on in this city for 20+ years. What would we call it? I truly do not know. is it a strategy to continue to delay, delay and delay some more, so that those that of us that DO want something done, just give up because we have jobs and families and can't continue to argue with commissioners and council people that do not want growth? Seriously, why are we even having a revisioning process? Already it looks like it's going down a path of rejection. This is all over the thought, just the thought, of POSSIBLY CONSIDERING a parking structure and/or a 4 story building somewhere. Anytime you mention these type things, you the alarmists start going crazy about huge concrete structures and village feel and don't want to be like Palo Alto, etc. This again, is all over a couple of ideas that just may warrant some serious consideration. I said it above, we have children, jobs and a life, it gets too ridiculous to continue to go thru the process, over and over again, we feel like we're on a hamster wheel, and this hamster is now 20+ years old!

Posted by Yes sir!, a resident of the Menlo Park: Park Forest neighborhood, on Nov 20, 2009 at 11:03 am

"To anyone with any negotiating experience, it's clear that his current proposal is a starting point because he expects that a savvy team of negotiators from the city will whittle his demands down to a reasonable level."

It's clear to anyone that's dealt with MP that there are no savvy negotiators, either on the payroll or in elected office. Bohannon may as well ask for the moon, because barring a citizen referendum, he'll get it.