In July 2012, the Menlo Park City Council approved the El Camino Real/Downtown Specific Plan which establishes
a development framework for private and public investments on El Camino Real, in the Caltrain station area and in Downtown Menlo Park. The Specific Plan provides a conceptual design for Downtown and identifies many civic projects the community wanted the City to pursue.

Unfortunately, ALL the significant projects have been ignored by subsequent city councils and no council member has championed them during the past 12 years.

2025 Priorities

• Make public space on the 600 block of Santa Cruz Avenue an inviting place to visit, socialize, enjoy a coffee or casual meal, and read a book or newspaper. While it is already extremely popular with teenagers it is unattractive and not adult-friendly. I recommended several basic improvements in November 2023 post, My Holiday Wish List for Downtown Menlo Park and much more should be done. Note: (New furniture was promised in 2023 but never installed.)
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• Resurface and re-stripe Downtown Santa Cruz Avenue, repair curbs and crosswalks, and keep everything extra clean.
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• Install attractive new street lighting starting with Santa Cruz Avenue; then add to side streets between Oak Grove and Menlo Avenues.
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• Repair and resurface all city parking lots. Provide better lighting.
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• Introduce an initial monthly vacancy tax on properties not leased after six months. Increase rates at regular intervals after six months. Many of the existing ones have been vacant for more than four years.
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