|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Menlo Park City Council plans to keep a one-block street closure in downtown that opponents claim is under used and contributing to a struggling downtown.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Menlo Park closed several blocks to cars in downtown to facilitate additional outdoor dining and community areas. One of those streets, Ryan Lane near Ristorante Carpaccio, is already set to reopen.
However, a block of the eastbound lane of Santa Cruz Avenue between Curtis and Doyle streets remained closed. While originally the three restaurants on the block had outdoor seating on the closed lane, they have since moved a majority of dining to the parking area. The entire lane remained closed with part of the block being used as a small gathering space with picnic tables in front of Walgreens, Starbucks and Tilak Menlo Park. There is also an east bound bike lane, the only bike lane in downtown on Santa Cruz Avenue.
On Tuesday, June 10, the city council majority reversed course and decided to keep the closure in part due to its frequent use by young adults and teens.
During the school year, teens often gather at the tables after school.
“The city has devised a bike lane that has proven to be effective at safely separating bicycles and scooters… and created a safe gathering place for teens. There was a write up about how California Avenue is trying to do this. We’ve achieved exactly that and I think we should preserve it, enhance it,” Councilmember Besty Nash said.
Some public commenters also pointed out Palo Alto’s efforts to make California Avenue a center of commerce by closing the street to cars.
“University Ave is a nightmare, and as a pedestrian I feel unprotected and unprioritized… Compared to that, California Ave is peaceful, feels safe for children, and has a ton of successful new businesses and community initiatives. Which do we want to emulate in Menlo Park?” Emma Stanford wrote to the council.
“This block has become one of the only places in Menlo Park where students, families and neighbors can hang out comfortably. Hillview (Middle School) kids are there almost every day after school, eating, talking and biking safely. I know because I was one of them last year. It’s more than just a street. It’s now space for people to connect within the community,” Menlo-Atherton freshman Julianne Hanson told the council.
Councilmember Jeff Schmidt was the vote that switched keeping the street closed into the majority. “I feel like I probably became more of an ally (for keeping the street closed) because I just spent more time on my bike downtown… now I feel like there’s so many kids that are using it and I feel like it’s more important to stay with what we have,” Schmidt said.
Now that the council decided to keep the block closed, Ali El Safy – owner of Bistro Vida and Bar Loretta – has plans for the space. El Safy originally took responsibility for the space during the pandemic. He installed planters, tables and decor at his own expense. He said he had been delaying investing more time and money until the council decided whether to keep the space.
On Wednesday, less than 12 hours after the council’s decision, El Safy started installing new umbrellas at the picnic tables so residents could have shade during the summer months. “Menlo Park doesn’t have anything like the piazzas (public squares common in many European countries including France where El Safy started working in restraunts),” he said on Wednesday. “One of the nice things brought by COVID is people started going outside. They want a place to drink coffee, sit down and read a newspaper. It’s not just kids, it’s a community space.”
He has a vision for the block. He thinks there should be a small stage where the city can host local artists and bands. He also hopes to bring back a weekly “Bon Marché” artisanal market that he used to organize in the space.
“I don’t make any money from (the block closure) but it’s so nice for the community to have,” El Safy said. He said he is looking forward to seeing the city’s plan.
“[If the closure ended] I don’t know where we would go. I think I’d have to just kind of walk around and I feel like that would get really tiring,” said Kalia, a freshman at TIDE Academy, in an interview.
“Sometimes the stores are too crowded or loud outside and it’s nice to be outside with everyone,” said Hillview Middle School seventh grade student Olivia Fraser.
The Menlo Park City School District did not officially oppose the closure. However, Hillview Principal Danielle O’Brien and MPCSD Superintendent Kristen Gracia said in a statement, “Hillview students have for generations spent time in downtown Menlo Park after school and we strive to help our students be conscientious and respectful neighbors… As the City Council considers the future of the closed portion of Santa Cruz Avenue, we hope they will continue to prioritize welcoming public spaces that encourage all ages to gather and enjoy our downtown amenities.”
Some businesses have requested the council reopen it as part of its effort to increase downtown vibrancy. Some claim the closure contributes to odd traffic patterns and leads to less visits to downtown stores.
“Keeping the 600 block of Santa Cruz Avenue closed year-round is ultimately a disservice to our downtown community. While it really benefits one business in particular, it creates a barrier that limits traffic and access to the many other businesses beyond that business towards El Camino Real,” said Keith Quiggins, owner of Rococo & Taupe, an interior design firm located west of the street closure.
The council informally voted 3-1 to keep the street closed. Mayor Drew Combs dissented and felt the closure should be part of a broader strategy. It was not exactly clear what position Councilmember Cecilia Taylor had but once the council decided to keep it closed, she expressed she had some ideas for the space.
The council directed city staff to set up a study session some time in the future to discuss improvements to the space. City staff plan to discuss how to improve the space later this year.
The things taking away from the vibrancy of the downtown are greedy, absentee landlords which causes multiple vacancies and storefronts that haven’t changed in 50 years and the very low income project currently being considered for downtown. Even if rents were to come down for the currently vacant spaces, no one is going to open a business with that uncertainty hanging out there.