The Menlo Park Metropolis Council plans to maintain a one-block avenue closure in downtown that companies declare is underneath used and contributing to a struggling downtown.
Through the COVID-19 pandemic, Menlo Park closed a number of blocks to vehicles in downtown to facilitate extra out of doors eating and neighborhood areas. A type of streets, Ryan Lane close to Ristorante Carpaccio, is already set to reopen.
Nevertheless, a block of the eastbound lane of Santa Cruz Avenue between Curtis and Doyle streets remained closed. Whereas initially the three eating places on the block had out of doors seating on the closed lane, they’ve since moved a majority of eating to the parking space. All the lane remained closed with a part of the block getting used as a small gathering area with picnic tables in entrance of Walgreens, Starbucks and Tilak Menlo Park. There’s additionally an east sure bikeline, the one bikelane in downtown on Santa Cruz Avenue.
On Tuesday, June 10, the town council majority reversed course and determined to maintain the closure partly attributable to its frequent use by younger adults and youths.
Through the college yr, teenagers usually collect on the tables after college.
“The town has devised a motorbike lane that has confirmed to be efficient at safely separating bicycles and scooters… and created a secure gathering place for teenagers. There was a write up about how California Avenue is making an attempt to do that. We’ve achieved precisely that and I feel we should always protect it, improve it,” Councilmember Besty Nash mentioned.
Some public commenters additionally identified Palo Alto’s efforts to make California Avenue a middle of commerce by closing the road to vehicles.
“College Ave is a nightmare, and as a pedestrian I really feel unprotected and unprioritized… In comparison with that, California Ave is peaceable, feels secure for youngsters, and has a ton of profitable new companies and neighborhood initiatives. Which will we need to emulate in Menlo Park?” Emma Stanford wrote to the council.
“This block has change into one of many solely locations in Menlo Park the place college students, households and neighbors can hang around comfortably. Hillview (Center Faculty) youngsters are there nearly day-after-day after college, consuming, speaking and biking safely. I do know as a result of I used to be one in all them final yr. It’s greater than only a avenue. It’s now area for folks to attach inside the neighborhood,” Menlo-Atherton freshman Julianne Hanson advised the council.
Councilmember Jeff Schmidt was the vote that switched maintaining the road closed into the bulk. “I really feel like I in all probability grew to become extra of an ally (for maintaining the road closed) as a result of I simply spent extra time on my bike downtown, after which, after all, the factor that Dylan occurred… now I really feel like there’s so many youngsters which might be utilizing it and I really feel prefer it’s extra essential to stick with what we have now,” Schmidt mentioned.
Now that the council determined to maintain the block closed, Ali El Safy – proprietor of Bistro Vida and Loretta – has plans for the area. El Safy initially took accountability for the area in the course of the pandemic. He put in planters, tables and decor at his personal expense. He mentioned he had been delaying investing extra money and time till the council determined whether or not to maintain the area.
On Wednesday, lower than 12 hours after the council’s determination, El Safy began putting in new umbrellas on the picnic tables so residents may have shade in the course of the summer season months. “Menlo Park doesn’t have something just like the piazzas (public squares frequent in lots of European nations together with France the place El Safy began working in restraunts),” he mentioned on Wednesday. “One of many good issues introduced by COVID is folks began going exterior. They need a spot to drink espresso, sit down and skim a newspaper. It’s not simply youngsters, it’s a neighborhood area.”
He has a imaginative and prescient for the block. He thinks there needs to be a small stage the place the town can host native artists and bands. He additionally hopes to deliver again a weekly “Bon Marché” artisanal market that he used to arrange within the area.
“I don’t make any cash from it however it’s so good for the neighborhood to have,” El Safy mentioned. He mentioned he’s trying ahead to seeing the town’s plan.
“[If the closure ended] I don’t know the place we might go. I feel I’d have to only form of stroll round and I really feel like that may get actually tiring,” mentioned Kalia, a freshman at TIDE Academy, in an interview.
“Generally the shops are too crowded or loud exterior and it’s good to be exterior with everybody,” mentioned Hillview Center Faculty seventh grade pupil Olivia Fraser.
The Menlo Park Metropolis Faculty District didn’t formally oppose the closure. Nevertheless, Hillview Principal Danielle O’Brien and MPCSD Superintendent Kristen Gracia mentioned in a press release, “Hillview college students have for generations hung out in downtown Menlo Park after college and we try to assist our college students be conscientious and respectful neighbors… Because the Metropolis Council considers the way forward for the closed portion of Santa Cruz Avenue, we hope they may proceed to prioritize welcoming public areas that encourage all ages to collect and luxuriate in our downtown facilities.”
Some companies have requested the council reopen it as a part of its effort to extend downtown vibrancy. Some declare the closure contributes to odd site visitors patterns and results in much less visits to downtown shops.
“Maintaining the 600 block of Santa Cruz Avenue closed year-round is finally a disservice to our downtown neighborhood. Whereas it actually advantages one enterprise specifically, it creates a barrier that limits site visitors and entry to the numerous different companies past that enterprise in the direction of El Camino Actual,” mentioned Keith Quiggins, proprietor of Rococo & Taupe, an inside design agency positioned west of the road closure.
The council informally voted 3-1 to maintain the road closed. Mayor Drew Combs dissented and felt the closure needs to be a part of a broader technique. It was not precisely clear what place Councilmember Cecilia Taylor had however as soon as the council determined to maintain it closed, she expressed she had some concepts for the area.
The council directed metropolis workers to arrange a research session a while sooner or later to debate enhancements to the area. Metropolis workers plan to debate how one can enhance the area later this yr.
