Editor,Â
Verkada has been refusing to comply with its requirement to open its parking garages at 405 E. Fourth Ave. and 406 E. Third Ave., even though its lease stipulates it, it was a condition of the building being approved (in exchange for benefits the developer and presumably the tenants would benefit from). Heck there are 3-foot square signs posted outside both garages serving as a daily reminder to anyone entering the properties.
Parking downtown is challenging, especially on nights and weekends. Our downtown businesses rely heavily on holiday traffic, and parking is desperately needed for families, and seniors, particularly with the colder, rainier weather we experience now. Verkada has known about this for over 40 days, via the developer and the city. We’ve reached out via social media, and have received no response, no ETA, and frustratingly, no access.
It raises the bigger question of developer concessions. Every project asks for waivers, concessions and/or bonuses, ostensibly for community benefit. With no one policing this, and if businesses like Verkada can seemingly ignore these requirements, one must ask — why are we granting these at all, and what will the impact be on our beloved city?
Michael Weinhauer
San Mateo
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
Only subscribers can view and post comments on articles.
Already a subscriber? Login Here
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
(2) comments
Yes, this is quite concerning and opens up questions of other community benefits that are promised to neighborhoods - who oversees this?
Speaking of parking… wasn’t San Mateo thinking of (or have they made a decision on) closing sections of B Street permanently? Sorry, Mr. Weinhauer, but it appears the city is okay with hollowing out downtown traffic, both for parking and for customers. Let’s hope your letter opens some eyes from our so-called leaders. My only worry is the city will attempt to create a publicly funded oversight committee to oversee the issues you’ve raised.
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.