The Sunset Magazine campus in Menlo Park has long been a symbol of idyllic suburban life, but its future is now tied to the pressing need for urban development and affordable housing. This historic site, once a hub of inspiration for Western living, is poised to undergo a dramatic transformation that reflects the changing landscape of California.

In 2013, the campus was a picturesque blend of Spanish colonial architecture and lush gardens, a testament to the post-war suburban dream. However, the passage of time and the evolving needs of the region have led to a shift in its purpose. The developer now owns the property at 80 Willow Road and plans to build a massive skyscraper complex, including retail and office space, a school, a hotel, and 665 apartments, 100 of which will be affordable.

The Historical Significance of the Sunset Campus

The Sunset campus, designed by Clifford May in 1951, was more than just a headquarters; it was a working laboratory for the magazine’s service journalism. From test kitchens to gardens, it provided practical advice on suburban living, from grilling tri-tip to building redwood planters. The campus was a microcosm of the West Coast, embodying the dream of idyllic suburban life that Sunset’s readers aspired to.

However, the assumptions underlying that lifestyle—cheap gas, plentiful housing—have long since vanished. The housing crisis in California has made it increasingly difficult for employees and residents to live within close proximity to their workplaces. The guy who helped me open an account at the local Wells Fargo told us he lived 90 minutes away; his parents had lost their Menlo Park house in the 2008 crash, and for a time he lived in his car. My husband, desperate for diversion after a year of walking our elderly dog through the silent streets of Los Altos, finally convinced me to move north to San Francisco.

The Housing Crisis and Urban Development

The proposed development at 80 Willow Road is part of a broader effort to address the state-mandated housing allotment of nearly 3,000 units for Menlo Park by 2030. However, the project has faced significant opposition from locals concerned about its environmental impact and scale. Attorney General Rob Bonta recently accused Menlo Park of improperly blocking the development, highlighting the tension between preserving historic sites and meeting the region’s housing needs.

The state estimates that California will need 2.5 million housing units by 2030, a million of them low-income. The 2026 housing law is designed to make it easier to incorporate housing into commercially zoned property like the 80 Willow site. This law is crucial because local control has often led to narrow thinking and missed opportunities for sensible development.

The Future of the Sunset Campus

The precise scale of the project matters less than the fact that something dramatically different—and bigger—should go there. The dream of idyllic suburban life that the Sunset building represents is dead, dead, dead—unsustainable and unaffordable for all but the very few. Why hang on?

Years of missed opportunities and narrow thinking have brought us to a point where big developments are necessary to address the housing crisis. The state’s 2026 housing law is a step in the right direction, but it is not enough. We need to embrace more sensible development, relaxing rules for parking, modernizing construction codes, speeding up approvals, and encouraging building apartments over every storefront.

Perhaps the best way to pay homage to Sunset’s history is to face reality: tear down the building and start over. The future of the Sunset campus lies in its ability to adapt to the changing needs of the region, reflecting the innovative spirit that California is known for.