Federal U.S. Geological Survey office property to hit the market

Perhaps someone can explain to me the rationale for the law that requires the GSA to charge rent at the market rate if the tenant is another federal agency. There must be a logical explanation.

The GSA is required to charge market rental rates so that the budget of the agency occupying the space does not get a subsidy from below market rental rates compared to an agency which is renting non-GSA property.

Menlo Park is over-built with office space and high-end housing. I’d love to see a thoughtful combination of truly affordable housing, open space, playground, and public areas, small shops (coffee house, small food shop etc). I’d love to see the whole bloc from Ravenswood to Linfield and Laurel to Middlefield be residential. I know that the economics don’t support low-cost housing, but the morality does. High prices has made this a truly segregated area. Honestly, I long to see people from all cultural, religious and ethnic groups walking in my neighborhood, living next door. How can we teach our children to be more accepting of everyone when their worlds are so white??? This is where we can begin to address some of the most divisive issues in our country.

In particular, I’d love to see an area where our service providers could afford to live, clerks in our stores, housecleaners, gardeners, home care providers not to mention teachers, nurses, police and firemen (and women!). All those folks must travel distances to get here, causing air pollution (they can’t afford electric cars!), further clogging roads and freeways, greatly reducing their leisure time etc.

When I moved to Menlo Park in 1970, several of my neighbors (homeowners) were gardeners. They became my friends, often sharing their knowledge with me, befriending my children and generally adding to the comfort of my neighborhood (Allied Arts). Those homes, which they had purchased for under $20,000 now sell for over $3,000,000’s!!!! My once middle class town has become a town of elitists. That’s OK, but I wish there were more “ordinary” folks as well.

In addition solar panels should be required on all buildings, sufficient to make them energy independent. Just recently I replaced my old solar panels with state-of-the-art panels and a battery backup in my garage. When the power goes out, I don't know it!

Regarding the SRI site - I'd be concerned about contaminated soil and who is responsible for remediation. Have any core samples been taken? What were the results? I would check underneath the power plant.


There may haven been a problem underneath for former Burgess Theater.

sbs

We had to abandon a housing site in Belle Haven due to contamination.

Stu Soffer