Three-story building planned for Menlo Avenue moving forward

Very impressive looking building, and a much better alternative to the lot that has stood empty for decades.

1) Is the street in the drawing Evelyn St? If so, it would make sense to change the building address from Menlo Ave to Evelyn St.
2) Is the ground level parking for the three residential units? Do the office workers park in the adjacent City/Draeger's lot?

Hopefully a better solution for a loading zone other than Menlo Ave. I live very close to Draeger's and would hate to see Draeger's trucks parked on Menlo Ave.

It's too big for the area, especially when most of the surrounding buildings are two-storys. Why is Menlo Park allowing these huge three story buildings in the downtown area? They never should have allowed Eric Schmidt to build a three story building for his family foundation (not for lease) near the train station that replaced several small one story building businesses that served the nearby community. Now this three story building next to Draeger's. When will it stop? The downtown area should be dedicated to retail, not offices. And new buildings shouldn't exceed two stories.

I hate what's happening to Menlo Park!

If I recall correctly that lot was used for years by Draegar's as their loading bay paying a kings ransom in rent to the owner. Rumor has it was $8,000 per month. A huge expense but Draegar's had no choice and the City of MP refused them permission to load from the public road or parking lot.

This went on for decades until the family who owned the lot decided it needed to raise the rent to the fair market value (whatever that means for such a tiny lot, only of use to .. you guessed it Draegar's) of $14,000 per month (the numbers might be off slightly). Draegar's pleaded to avoid the increase and took the matter to the City Council again. After review the Council granted permission with strict conditions to allow Draegar's to use some of the marked spaces until a set time each day. Bingo ! The greedy family were told to pound sand with their increase and from that day forward the tiny lot has been a weed patch (shame on that family for not maintaining it !)

So the moral of the story is, greed is NOT good! The owner's of that lot should NOT be permitted to build on it. It is already way too congested as it is with cars, vans, bicycles and walkers in the area.

PS. And they should be compelled to maintain it !

@DC McGlynn, are you kidding? their past use does NOT dictate the current or future use. Draegers could have EASILY made their store smaller and had a loading dock like other stores do. That the owner of a now empty lot wants to development is their RIGHT.

Bravo to them for making a beautiful building. the reason that Menlo Park is allowing three story buildings is to accommodate the more than 3000 housing units they are short and need to approve to be compliant with state law.

Roy

The development rights for this parcel were codified in the adoption of the DSP - which was challenged by an election and that challenge lost.

End of story.

Roy,
Draegers likely built that structure in 1955 when they opened first in Menlo Park and they had the option to lease that land at a fair rate. It's not a very large store and hence I'm sure they needed every sq ft. Web Link

Fast forward 60 years and Silicon Valley greed sets in.. MP is way too congested as it is. Parking is limited, sure build more offices and homes closer to the Bay but not downtown. That lot is also too small for a commercial building, barely the size of a tennis court.

The lot, at exactly its current size, was zoned for this use in the DSP - there is no basis for illegal spot down-zoning.

@DC MCGlynn

The current Daegers store was rebuilt in the late 80's/ early 90's can't remember exactly. They could have solved the loading doc issue then. Great to have something other that an empty lot.

@Judy, the DTSP allows for 3 story buildings and there are currently other 3 story buildings on Menlo. Of course the current 3 story building are only offices, no retail, no housing.