The spot should be developed for housing (live, growing people, not stiffs) and maybe, at her discretion she could donate part of her flip to an arts and events center at Cubberley.

When a multi-millionaire has a “private club” it’s elitist, exclusionary, anti- neighborhood and plutocratic, no matter how many former city staff she hires to do her bidding.
I wish someone in the council race had the courage to say no to power.

Not once did Allison Cormack mention the negative impacts to the residents. Only looking at it from a one sided perspective of making it happen for business ventures. It is irrevalent First Baptist Church that provides “community” spaces and only for a few. The relevance should be the impact to neighbors who come home for peace and quiet, the lack parking spaces and the drop off and pick up that is used by hundreds of students.

Cormack’s response disparages residents.

Dear Marissa,

All moms are working moms. (This goes for dads, too.)

Instead of creating a private club, why don't you create a community club for all working parents (moms and dads, paid and unpaid) that provides a place for PTAs and other parent volunteer groups to gather and work and play together (affordably, please). Build community. Bring people together. Don't break us into (paid/unpaid) factions. This concept is not helpful.

Pumpkin carving, music performances? These are things we do in our schools. Create an organization that SUPPORTS all local families and encourages engagement with our school community-building activities, Marissa. Again, bring people together.

So far, I don't see that this project delivers broad-based public benefits necessary to merit PC zoning and the density bonuses that come with that. I'd oppose this the way it is currently described.

Uber and Lyft are not a solution - they may solve a parking problem but cause another - a ride service still brings in vehicles and can be very disruptive.

How will this affect the school community across the street? - more traffic, more parking congestion, more accidents?
Just a block away at Lincoln and Middelfeild there is accident after accident, we don't need more traffic in this area.

IS MM afraid to go out of her own backyard? Take your club elsewhere please.

I was positively inclined toward this project, seemed like a creative idea. Then I discovered that former Palo Alto planning director Steve Emslie was working on it.
The Revolving door is so common here. A city planning director working for developers who come before the city. Disgraceful. He isn't working on the Castilleja development anymore? or for Mr. Arrilaga?

What about teacher housing?

Sounds like a glorified babysitting daycare center for Palo Alto socialite schmoozing.

Marissa are you going to invite the low income housing moms next door over to your [portion removed] club? For free?

[Portion removed.]

I'm excited for this. As a telecommuting-working-full-time mom, isolation is a struggle I deal with daily. Having this resource within walking distance would be huge. My kids are no longer in elementary school, but a neighborhood center would have been served them well at the time--getting space at Lucie Stern for things like girl scout meetings, art classes, etc is just not realistic--too much demand and too expensive. Mitchell Park Community Center had a lot of opportunities--but too far for them to go on their own. Ditto re open studio type opportunities at the art center--just aren't enough available offerings, particularly in the evenings when a working mom could attend. Sign me up!

An elite private club in the middle of a residential neighborhood, in the middle of a housing crunch, when the major political issue of the day is abuse by the powerful and income inequality ... no way, is this city -expletive_deleted- stupid?

@ Louise,

How on earth could Cormack's comments possibly be twisted into "disparages residents"?

My reading of her comments is that Cormack is open to hearing the merits of both sides, and as someone who really understands how Palo Altan's use public and private meeting spaces, has valuable insights into how a project like this can impact the neighbourhood. She punctuated her comments with real world examples of how projects impact life in Palo Alto.

This is an interesting project. The "exclusivity" of the "private" club is a question that we all would like answered. If the impacts are local, local folks should be capable of joining.

We all need more details.

It is nice to see it will be an inclusive community space as it will be a great solution to RV parking and over crowding in other cities.

Just imagine the possibilities.... Overflow cars along the neighborhood streets and a line of plastic-walled, transmission-fluid-dripping and lead-exhaust-spewing temporary homes.

For convenience, please don't put locks on the bathrooms, showers, kitchens or laundry areas as they will be popular ammenities. Also, if it is not too much trouble could we have a few lawn chairs out front as it would be a great place to hang out next to our vehicles to smoke some newly legal plants and enjoy the sunsets.

We will make it part of our regular rotation from ECR near Stanford to the shopping center parking lots to this new retreat. Thank you for being so welcoming. Palo Alto is awesome!

I think this proposal sounds great. We need more spaces where working parents can gather, particularly those who freelance or work flexible schedules. It is isolating to be at home all the time. Coffee shops are often crowded, plus they offer no childcare.

Thank you for bringing this innovative project to Palo Alto!

>When a multi-millionaire has a “private club” it’s elitist, exclusionary, anti- neighborhood and plutocratic, no matter how many former city staff she hires to do her bidding.

I wish someone in the council race had the courage to say no to power.

*and risk not getting invited to the gala opening? no one wants to be left out of the photo-op. selfie anyone?

>> An elite private club in the middle of a residential neighborhood, in the middle of a housing crunch, when the major political issue of the day is abuse by the powerful and income inequality ... no way, is this city -expletive_deleted- stupid?

*the answer is in the question.

>>>Sounds like a glorified babysitting daycare center for Palo Alto socialite schmoozing.

Marissa are you going to invite the low income housing moms next door over to your [portion removed] club? For free?

*highly unlikely.


Palo Alto is raising the bar on exclusivity and MM is leading the parade.

This proposal end will up at City Council level with some screaming "elitist!", "too much new traffic!", or "more housing of X sort" hanging onto their opinions with nothing in the world able to make them change their core opinions.

Kudos to Ms. Meyer for entering the cut throat world of Palo Alto land use process. Brave soul. I expect Ms. Meyer and Mr. Emslie have been working hard trying to craft a new land use plan to satisfy as many of the conflicting opinions as possible. For example, how can one call this proposal "elitist" if there are more benefits for low-income individuals and groups than our Winter Lodge, Palo Alto Women's Club, Palo Alto Men's Club, and Boy Scouts at Lucy Stern Center perhaps have combined?

(Yep... the Palo Alto Men's Club.... I await the Palo Allto Weekly article on that just a few blocks away from the old funeral home! Will it survive socially or financially more than 50 years? Who knows?)

I do wish any Palo Alto official paid or appointed official was barred from paid work lobbying or representling anyone at City Hall for at least 5 years. That is one of my "core" beliefs but I could be persuaded to reduce that to 2-3 years. So, yes, I totally understand the power of other's core beliefs,

Ms. Meyer is famous in her home's neighborhood for her over-the-top Halloween and Christmas parties. I love her bronze hippo "swimming" in her front yard. I look forward to seeing what she does at the old funeral home. Whatever she does will be something the majority of Palo Altoans will love and I suspect will be a 21st Century kind of semi-private community club which will be replicated all around the country. And, make places like the Palo Alto Men's and Women's clubs join the modern age.

If the parking and traffic can be figured out, this seems like a great benefit to the community. When I first retired and thought I might re-enter the workforce, I would’ve loved to go hang out in such a place. It’s sad, however, that these days children are expected to “play hard.”

> Ms. Meyer is famous in her home's neighborhood for her over-the-top Halloween and Christmas parties. I love her bronze hippo "swimming" in her front yard. I look forward to seeing what she does at the old funeral home. Whatever she does will be something the majority of Palo Altoans will love and I suspect will be a 21st Century kind of semi-private community club which will be replicated all around the country.

*groan*

Gennady: This project is in University South, not Professorville. The boundary of the current historic district is a couple of blocks away, at Cowper; the boundary of the neighborhood (and the original historic district) is a block farther away than that, at Waverley. The Weekly's "Palo Alto Neighborhoods" map gets this right, last time I checked. Web Link

"I love her bronze hippo "swimming" in her front yard." The hippo belonged to Marissa's neighbor; Marissa bought that property and removed the house there in order to expand her yard. Perhaps there's a cautionary tale there.

@Allen Akin,

Thanks for the correction and sorry for the error. As you correctly point out, the property is indeed just east of Professorville, in University South. I corrected the story to reflect that fact.

This is a great idea for a Woman's club people will be dying
to join, there may already be a waiting list..
I'm mourning the fact that as a Male I wont be able to join them..

Yes, I'm confused about what "private club" means too.
Does it mean anyone can join for a monthly or yearly fee, or just certain people or friends of
Marissa Cormack are invited to join? I'd like more details too. Where's the public benefit?

oops, I meant to say, Marissa Mayer not Cormack...

Why does it generate all those puffs of steam?

All moms are not working moms. Period.

"I do wish any Palo Alto official paid or appointed official was barred from paid work lobbying or representling anyone at City Hall for at least 5 years."

Including especially while actively employed by city hall.

Private clubs are privately controlled. That means, once they are built, the city has little control over how they are used, and the club may close its doors to anyone they don't want.

Remember when rich people would build a library for the whole community? Remember when people who felt isolated at home would volunteer in the community to build connections and relationships and do meaningful community service?

These were the people who helped create a vibrant and diverse Palo Alto. Marissa, I challenge you to create a facility the connects people to the whole community and encourages people to defeat isolation with community service. Bring people together.

QUOTE: Private clubs are privately controlled. That means, once they are built, the city has little control over how they are used, and the club may close its doors to anyone they don't want.

Old timers will recall the days when the PA Elks Club only accepted white folks. Things changed with dwindling memberships and social 'enlightenment'.


QUOTE: Remember when rich people would build a library for the whole community?

Again, old timers in PA will recall the wooden Carnegie Library on Hamilton where
City Hall now stands. Ironic how wealthy magnates (e.g. Carnegie, Rockefeller, Gates et al) eventually come to realize that after decades of screwing people over, the massive amounts of money they have accrued begins to mean little within the greater scheme of things. So they create various foundations and grants in an effort to be remembered as 'good guys'...as a legacy for the ages.

"Behind every great fortune lies a crime." Honore de Balzac


As for Ms. Meyer...she has a couple of options/choices...create something that can benefit all Palo Altans regardless of their socio-economic/educational/ethnic backgrounds OR perpetuate an elitist mindset that limits certain opportunities & outlets to a limited few. It's her call.

For the past few years, all I've read about is the need for housing. These parcels should be re-zoned for housing only. If the city council rezones a parcel for a private club, we will all know that this "housing crisis" is a bunch of baloney.

Anything that is for women only or has some type of qualifying factor, is not a good thing for any of us. If she is going to run this as a business where she reaps the profits, it is only going to benefit her and the wealthy individuals able to join.

On the other hand, if she is community minded and runs this as a non-profit style facility, open to anyone who needs the facilities, regardless of whether they are women, parents, wealthy or anything else, then it would be much better doing so in an area with better access, parking, and infrastructure. Perhaps somewhere on Bayshore with good highway access next door to a coffee shop and retail. Is there any space now near Ikea as that place seems quite a good site to me.

@common sense -- We cannot add housing without adding services for residents. We are already woefully lacking in retail. (Look at downtown Menlo Park or Los Altos or San Carlos for counter-examples.) The type of services proposed here seem relevant to a growing population, so I would welcome them.

I’m looking at 456 University as a cautionary tale relevant to what to do or permit for 980 Middlefield. One, there are laudable elements of this initiative but it would fit better downtown for example at 456 University; two, in 1995 council voted to permit the powerful landlord to convert a theater into a bookstore but it was pre-negotiated by the new tenant who put up additional money that it would revert back to a theater and performance space if the bookstore ever failed and somewhere along the line that was forgotten or revoked; Three, in 2014 there was considerable interest in a community space for performance space a lot like the plan here and staff time on a public private partnership but the owner rebuffed it and then said the new space would “rock“ Recently I tried to rent the space for a jazz concert and was told live music was no longer a use the owner would consider or the tenant. So my point is if the applicant has no history of offering a public benefit the burden of proof is on her not us.

In perusing all of the comments here, I am surprised that an indoor feline center has not been mentioned. Imagine the joy of those participating in the state-of-art facilities dedicated to the utter pampering of all Palo Alto cats.

My Question is.....who is going to get rid of all of the cucuy from the dead spirits having flowed through that place. I imagine a bon fire of burning sage will not suffice....you won't find me there......

>> My Question is.....who is going to get rid of all of the cucuy from the dead spirits having flowed through that place. I imagine a bon fire of burning sage will not suffice....

Since she already held a lavish Halloween Party, Ms. Mayer could work with a different theme for her next ghostly bash.

A Hispanic inspired "Day of the Dead" remembrance at the former mortuary site might suffice in alleviating your concerns. It's a three-day celebration (October 31-November 2) with food, drink and gifts...a seasonal party for the deceased.

Guests wearing colorful regional costumes, various skeletal figurines on display + lively music would add to a festive occasion.

Parking would still remain a problem and a 3-Day celebration might incur the wrath of some neighbors BUT at least no one could say that MM was being limited in scope or catering to a specific PA demographic.

Vaya Con Mayer!

The following 2 ideas for comedy only.

1) Show up at CC Meeting in style of that crusty old sea captain from Jaws at the CC Meeting. But now BBQ Aficionado under mistaken impression that there is a crematorium on site. Waxes on about converting crematorium into big sliding BBQ.
Then 2) guy shows up representing Palo Alto decency club. His kids go to Addison School. He emotionally pleads, ",what Dad wants to drop off or pick up their kids as virtual march of young women in yoga pants go to this site? Or attend back to school night as bevy of beauties dressed to the 9s go to an evening event?".

Serious aside. For years I did Bike Safety day for 3rd grades at Addison. With trailer creep blacktop was "endangered". I asked about doing it on their parking lot. Funeral home OK with it, BUT would have to cancel us is needed for service parking. So deal breaker. But I told them, "hey you could put up a sign 'we can wait for your business'".