February 11, 2004

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Publication Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2004

Christian bookstore envisioned for downtown Menlo Park site

By Rebecca Wallace

Almanac Staff Writer

Bursting at the seams, the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church hopes to expand its reach a few blocks down Santa Cruz Avenue by putting in a Christian bookstore and meeting space in the vacant building that once held Menlo Park Hardware.

According to plans submitted to the city last week, books, Bibles, gifts, and tapes of Christian music and services would be sold in the front part of the 8,000-square-foot space at 700 Santa Cruz. Church youth and singles groups would gather in the back, with occasional speakers.

The proposal needs a nod from the city's Planning Commission. But before a meeting date has even been set, the plan is drawing criticism from those who say the prime downtown space should filled by a commercial powerhouse to bring in sales tax dollars. IMG (International Market Gallery) Home, a discount rug and furniture store, closed there last year after the owners complained of steep rent.

"We were really hopeful that we would get a pure retail operation in there that would start invigorating the street," City Manager David Boesch said. "It (a Christian bookstore) could have a limited market."

The thing is, though, Menlo Park Presbyterian is not your run-of-the-mill church.

Dubbed a "mega-church" by Peninsula historians Michael Svanevik and Shirley Burgett in their book "Menlo Park: Beyond the Gate," the institution is a behemoth of 5,000 members. Its sanctuary at 950 Santa Cruz draws overflow crowds to five weekend services, and church officials ask parishioners to come on Saturday evening because the Sunday services are so full that people get turned away.

"It would reach a segment of the population," church business manager Bill Frimel said of the proposed bookstore, "but it's a big segment."

Mr. Frimel estimates that the store could bring in $1 million annually in sales. "The nearest Christian bookstore, there's one in San Carlos and one in Mountain View," he said. "Lots of our parishioners make the trek to those stores."

Mr. Frimel said the trekkers would instead bring foot traffic to Santa Cruz Avenue, patronizing other businesses as well.

The plans include minor changes to the building, such as new bike racks, plant trellises, and landscaping.

Church officials also have a more emotional reason for wanting to use the site: according to local historians, it's the original home of the church.

A church history states, "a New England-style white church building was erected at Santa Cruz and Chestnut by late 1874," and old photos show the pointy steeple as a landmark in the growing downtown.
Better on a side street?

Sentiment aside, church officials will need to deal with hard-and-fast issues such as revenue and parking to make a case to the Planning Commission.

When considering a business' application, planning commissioners must determine whether it would be an appropriate use of the site and how it would affect its neighbors, City Attorney Bill McClure said.

Commissioners are wary of approving businesses on Santa Cruz, such as banks and hair salons, that might not be major generators of sales tax, he said. Sales tax revenues make up the largest chunk of the city's income but have been sluggish in recent years.

"Planning Commission policy has been over the years to push the non-retail onto side streets or onto Menlo or Oak Grove (avenues)," Mr. McClure said.

A Christian Science reading room exists in downtown Menlo Park; it's on Chestnut Street off Santa Cruz.

Planning Commissioner Lorie Sinnott said she hadn't seen the church's plan but that she shared the concerns about sales tax revenue. "I'd prefer to see it on a side street," she said.

Ms. Sinnott also wondered whether a meeting room could worsen the downtown parking crunch. Church officials say events would typically be held in the evening.

Mr. Frimel said church officials hope to sign a three-year lease with an option to extend it to 10 years and that he anticipated rent of about $2 a square foot.

"We think it's certainly reasonable and would fit in with our overall budget," he said.

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