Facelift planned for aging parking lot Facelift planned for aging parking lot (February 16, 2005)

By Rebecca Wallace

Almanac Staff Writer

A parking garage may still be off in the distance for downtown Menlo Park, but in the meantime the city is looking at sprucing up one of its most rundown lots.

Poor Plaza 5, bounded by Evelyn and Crane streets and Santa Cruz and Menlo avenues, suffers from cracks, potholes and tree roots pushing up its asphalt. But a proposed facelift would fix up its pavement and add about 13 more parking spaces for a total of about 163.

The plan also includes 20 new trees and new lighting and benches, but four heritage trees (the owners of the aforementioned roots) would have to go, Dianne Dryer, city environmental programs coordinator, wrote in a staff report.

The trees, two Modesto ashes and two tan oaks, block driving and parking areas, and building around them would mean the loss of 15 to 30 parking spaces from the existing 150, she said. Relocating the trees could cost $30,000 to $45,000 per tree.

The City Council has already approved spending up to $675,000 on the project, but the cost has not yet been finalized, Ms. Dryer said.

Last week, city officials sought input from downtown businesses on the plan, dropping off fliers and copies of the proposed parking design and then holding a sparsely attended public meeting on it.

But there's still plenty of time to weigh in on the plan; it's expected to come before the council for a public meeting next month.

For more information, call city supervising engineer Yaw Owusa at 330-6740.

A city-sponsored consultant is still studying the possibilities for a parking garage on Plaza 3 on the north side of Santa Cruz at University Drive.

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