There is, sadly, no good way to spin this loss unless you're an ardent supporter of high-density housing in Menlo Park (and I know some of you are). With the exit of Sunset, Roger Reynolds, Iberia and, for some, Foster's Freeze followed by the entry of massive new office development and yet more dense housing we seem in great haste to sacrifice suburban character and scale for quasi-urban vibrancy, though the only thing "vibrant" about the change will be the thrum of markedly increased automobile traffic on our streets during commute and school hours.

Menlo Park has become something of a litmus test for whether suburban character still has a place on the peninsula -- I do not count rarified hamlets like Atherton and Hillsborough, which needn't trifle with base concerns such as housing density and large-scale office development -- and events of late make clear the answer to such questions. Objectively this is neither good nor bad -- it's just at odds with the reason I chose to buy a home and raise a family in Menlo Park, and I alone need deal with that.

Gern

Sorry to see them go. I hope the garden remains at least partially intact-the heritage oaks are beautiful. I wonder who's next?

Cancelled our subscription. Hope somebody manages to save the creekside heritage oaks with the anchors for hauling wagons through the old Middlefield crossing.

Gern - I well understand your point of view. Thank you for such thoughtful comments.