On Friday, Facebook announced that it was planning to build its own mixed-use village called Willow campus. The social media giant is aiming to redevelop the former Menlo Science & Technology Park into an integrated, mixed-use village that will provide much needed services, housing and transit solutions as well as office space.
Facebook says that part of its vision is to create a neighbourhood centre that provides long-needed community services. It plans to build 125,000 square feet of new retail space, including a grocery store, pharmacy and additional community-facing retail.
Facebook moved to Menlo Park in 2011 and has been expanding its presence while investing in the community.
Facebook says it will file the plan for Willow Campus this month and will begin more formal conversations with local government officials and community organizations over the course of the review process, which it expects to last approximately two years.
Facebook envisions construction will follow in phases, with the first to include the grocery, retail, housing and office completed in early 2021, and subsequent phases will take two years each to complete.
Facebook says this construction of this village will
- contribute significantly to the housing supply by building 1,500 units of housing on the campus, 15% of which will be offered at below market rates;
- generate an array of jobs for the community; and
- will provide an opportunity to catalyze regional transit investment by providing planned density sufficient to support new east-west connections and a future transit center.
Here is a video Facebook created to showcase its plans:
