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The city of Menlo Park has received a formal development application for the construction of a 41-unit residential building at 888 El Camino Real, which currently houses Jeffrey’s Hamburgers.
Plans published on the city of Menlo Park’s website show that the owners of the property, 888 El Camino LLC, propose to demolish the one-story restaurant building and construct a seven-story residential building. According to the city’s website, the 41 units in the building would be for-sale condo units, with five of the units (15%) being affordable to those at the very low-income level.
Serge Karanov, the owner of Jeffrey’s Hamburgers, said that he plans for Jeffrey’s to remain at its current location “to the last moment possible.”
“I spoke to (the property owners) a few weeks ago and was told that they anticipate it to be at least three to five years out,” he said. “(We) will start looking for another location nearby when we have a better idea of the closing date.”
The city’s El Camino Real/Downtown Specific Plan allows up to 24 residential units on a lot the size of 888 El Camino Real, however the developers propose to make use of a 50% state density bonus by including below market rate units to be able to build the 41 units that have been proposed.
The city is currently reviewing the application for completeness. If the application is determined to be complete, the city will then review the application for consistency with city and state development requirements and environmental standards. If the application is deemed incomplete, the developer can resubmit the application with any pieces of information that were determined to be missing.
Menlo Park’s Community Development Director, Deanna Chow, said that the city welcomes feedback from the community at any step of the process.
“Folks can come and review the plans at the city (hall),” she said. “It’s nice to have input early on.”
Anyone can view the application materials, including architectural drawings, for the two projects in person at the Menlo Park City Hall, 701 Laurel St. Appointments to view the architectural drawings and application materials at menlopark.gov/appointment.
A mixed-use office and retail development had previously been proposed for the site in July 2023. The preliminary application for the current all-residential design was submitted to the city in April 2024.
Jeffery’s PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE or better yet, come to REDWOOD CITY! We will take you burgers, buns, pickles and onion rings and all you have to offer. Devoted fan.
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I wish Jeffrey’s could move to downtown Menlo Park on Santa Cruz Ave. There would be one less vacant storefront!!
Why displace an existing business, serving our community, like Jeffrey’s when there are so many other adjacent or nearby properties that are unoccupied like the Cooks building sitting empty or the nearby strip mall that’s in steady decline?
Meanwhile the Stanford 400 Middle project remains with high levels of vacancy and empty commercial spaces.
5 units out of 41 is not 15%, 6 units is. If this is not a typo, then I’m concerned that MPs need for low-income housing, which is not being adequately addressed with a 15 percent requirement is even less well addressed when that rule is abused.