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In a letter sent to Menlo Park’s City Hall on Monday, Facebook revealed new details about its commitment to build a new multi-generational community center and library in Belle Haven, which the company initially announced in October.
The letter, signed by John Tenanes, the company’s vice president of global facilities and real estate, puts forward ambitious plans to build a new senior center, youth facilities, gym and library, as well as to renovate some amenities near the pools and improve pedestrian access and vehicle circulation at the existing Belle Haven community center campus – all in the next two and a half years.
“This project is an exciting opportunity to provide a tremendous neighborhood resource that will serve as a community gathering place in Menlo Park, the place we consider home,” Tenanes writes. “Thank you for this opportunity and we look forward to working closely with you, Menlo Park’s Belle Haven residents and City staff on this important initiative.”
In response, the city announced this afternoon (Dec. 19) that it intends to develop a potential project timeline, milestones and recommendations for the City Council to work through starting in the new year. Over the next four to six weeks, the city reports, staff will develop a proposed response and develop recommendations for the City Council about how community engagement efforts should move forward, what kind of environmental review will be needed, what kind of temporary or interim services should be provided during construction, how much of the budget should be dedicated to costs not covered by the offer, and how the city can meet Facebook’s rigorous proposed timeline.
The council is tentatively scheduled to discuss these matters at its meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 28.
An additional community meeting about the project has been scheduled on Saturday, Jan. 11, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Menlo Park Senior Center at 110 Terminal Ave., at the Belle Haven community center and senior center complex.
“This is an incredibly exciting project that will jump-start a process that normally takes local government many more years to complete,” said City Manager Starla Jerome-Robinson in the city’s Dec. 19 announcement. “I’m confident that this project will create a next generation community center that is relevant and meaningful to the neighborhood and program participants. Facebook’s generosity deserves to be met with our commitment to move quickly and we are up to the challenge.”
In the letter to Menlo Park, Tenanes emphasizes that the contribution to the city “should be treated as a standalone endeavor that is not connected to any other Facebook project.” In addition, he writes, “By providing updated facilities, our goal is to give residents a welcoming place to gather, celebrate and reinforce the social fabric that makes this neighborhood special.”
Tenanes makes it clear in the letter that Facebook has identified certain requirements that the city must meet for the company to be able to deliver the project so quickly.
“This expedited schedule is contingent upon leveraging existing information and achieving consensus among key stakeholders, including community members, City staff and City leadership,” he writes.
It helps that the city has been doing its own planning to identify community needs for such facilities, he notes. The city has recently completed a Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan that identifies the need for a new community center in Belle Haven, and has also completed both a needs assessment and a space needs assessment that lay out priorities for a Belle Haven library that better serves the community.
To keep the ball rolling as Facebook takes on the project of actually developing such facilities, Tenanes is asking that the city identify the project as a priority and commit to a timely approval and permitting process.
“Currently, permits can take up to 8 months after projects are approved, and our request for this project is that permits be issued within 2 months of submittal. This will lead to an expedited completion date and ultimately benefit the residents of Menlo Park,” he writes.
The city should also expect to be responsible for the costs related to processing the project approvals, permitting, plan-checking and building department inspections, as well as running activities and programs at the new facility.
He notes that while it could be possible to keep some of the existing facilities open during construction, doing so could slow the project down, and Facebook would prefer to relocate the existing programs somewhere else, except to allow access to Beechwood School and the soccer fields at Kelly Park. Facebook would not be responsible for any temporary facilities during the construction period.
Facebook is also not currently proposing to replace the two pools – a lap pool and a wading pool – located on the site, though the city has identified a need for these facilities to be updated. If there are additional items beyond what the company has proposed, Tenanes explains, the city can fund those with contributions from the city or a third party.
The timeline
As envisioned now, the project would take place in two phases, Tenanes writes.
The first phase, which would include reaching out to the public, creating the building designs, developing plans for how to program the space and getting the project approved, is intended to last six months.
Starting in January, Facebook plans to put forward a clearer plan to generate community input about the project and determine when those community meetings will take place.
Tenanes says Facebook wants to leave it up to the community to decide what programs will be operated in the facility, and will plan to collect data about what programs people would like to see there.
In February and March, meetings will be held with the community and operations staff to further determine what spaces will be needed.
Already, he notes, Facebook has done some initial work with the architectural firm Hart Howerton; the letter proposes that the firm be the lead project planner and designer, and asks that the city retain a consultant to guide the project as well.
He also notes that Facebook has been working with the support of Menlo Park’s new mayor, Cecilia Taylor, who enabled the company to start working with the architectural firm to develop preliminary space and site plans and a conceptual design for the project.
Facebook would be expected to act as the project’s master developer, responsible for design and construction, he adds.
In a written statement, Taylor told The Almanac: “I believe this Facebook Community Center proposal has the potential to rebuild relationships between the Belle Haven community and the city of Menlo Park and to make a difference in our the quality of life. This is a much awaited opportunity to upgrade and expand services for our youth, our families, our seniors, and ourselves after decades of outreach by the city and input from residents. It is important that each and every resident has access to essential tools and resources for connection, learning, exercise, and community. This is a step forward toward a live-play community.”
“I am hopeful about this partnership between the Community, the City, and Facebook,” she added.
The second phase of the project would be to develop construction plans, demolish the existing facilities and build the new facility. Tenanes says Facebook’s optimistic belief is that it can complete construction within 18 months after receiving the building permit.
In the city’s press statement, longtime Belle Haven resident Rose Bickerstaff expressed support for the project.
“We are thankful for Facebook’s decision to generously gift Menlo Park’s Belle Haven community a new campus. It is a decision that truly pays it forward,” she said.
“The positive impact of this new combined senior center, community center and library will be felt not only by our bayside neighborhood, but also Menlo Park residents in general.”
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Glad to read this important project is progressing. Hope this bears fruit and doesn’t get sidetracked like the library project did. Though I’m not a Menlo Park resident, it’s good for all of us when community infrastructure in our area is upgraded.
Yes, I agree with former commenter.
On another EPA issue, for the first time I went to Ravenswood Middle School to donate coats as requested. I’m appalled at the conditions there. How can Menlo Park allow this? How can Facebook improve this?
I encourage everyone to take a look, at least once. Our neighbors and valuable beings could use some help.