BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ
Daily Post Staff Writer
Menlo Park City Council is doubling down on its decision to keep the 600 block of Santa Cruz Avenue closed to traffic.
Council on Tuesday will talk about adding overhead lights, fabric to block the sun, a play area and stage where cars used to travel in the commercial area.
For years, the city has tried to add some buzz to downtown, and council members hope this will do the trick.
Councilwoman Betsy Nash said during the June meeting when council closed the street that it has become a community space. She said it was worth preserving and enhancing.
Public housing proposed
This comes as Nash and others on council have been pushing the development of public housing projects on nearby parking lots. Businesses have reacted to the prospect of elimination of hundreds of parking spaces by circulating petitions to put the developments to the voters.
Assistant City Manager Stephen Stolte and a consulting firm, M-Group city planners, will be proposing outdoor seating that could be moved for special events, a painted road and a play space for kids. They also are proposing more bicycle parking, adding fabric coverings to block the sun and stringing up patio lights overhead.
A new farmer’s market?
With these new improvements, Stolte says it could help create a space for a farmer’s market and outdoor music events. The city has approximately $477,515 available funding to make improvements to the street.
M-Group is proposing to paint the whole street with a colorful design and have a decorative fence panel along the street in front of the Walgreens. On the other half of the street, a concrete planter would separate the bike lane from the open space.
Large shade canopies would be hung in front of the Starbucks and Walgreens, with string lights installed below to illuminate the area at night.
Wooden benches would be placed around the sides of the street, with movable seating in the middle. A stage may be placed in front of Walgreens between the seating.
New crosswalk
A new crosswalk is being proposed in front of Walgreens to provide access to the parking lot.
Bistro Vida, Loretta and Left Bank, all on the 600 block of Santa Cruz Avenue, currently use the closed space.
While many residents have said they want to keep the block closed, others favored reopening the street to cars at a June 10 council meeting.
The closure along the 600 block is the only part of the street still closed from when council closed off all of Santa Cruz Avenue to vehicle traffic in 2020.