Our Mission
Our Mission is to expand housing and transportation choices for a more inclusive, affordable, and environmentally sustainable Palo Alto by working with residents and city government.
We host educational events, conduct original research on local housing and transportation-related issues, and serve as a voice to our elected officials and city staff.
About Us
Our Vision
Add more housing near services and transportation options in Downtown, El Camino, and California Avenue. This reduces both the length and frequency of car trips, parking demand, and greenhouse gas emissions, while increasing the vibrancy and quality of life in the community.
Enable schools to thrive by increasing housing of all sizes to serve the entire community.
Eliminate expensive parking mandates to allow projects to “right size” for their location and unit type.
Design for livability by creating public amenities such as public plazas and street networks that promote public health, community, and connectivity.
Champion specific plans for areas like Downtown, California Avenue, along El Camino, and at the San Antonio and Charleston Corridors. Build impact management strategies into growth plans to enable our city to thrive.
Our History
Palo Alto Forward was started in 2014 in reaction to the local initiative that overturned the City Council approval of the Maybell senior housing project.
The organization began as a purely volunteer board with no budget. In 2016, Palo Alto Forward become a 501c(3) with its first donations coming from dedicated board members. With just a volunteer board, Palo Alto Forward was highly successful in working with the City Council, residents, and city staff in supporting housing projects and changing public perception of housing.
Throughout the years, we have sponsored and co-sponsored a number of educational events including those with Scott Weiner, walking tours of “forbidden homes”, annual retreats, ice cream socials, and advocacy for projects.
Today, we are funded by our generous members and have obtained grants from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
