Russian Oligarch's Son Sues Menlo Park After Skyscraper Project Rejected

The son of a Putin-aligned Russian oligarch is suing the city of Menlo Park after officials rejected his company's proposal to build a large skyscraper complex. N17, the developer of the proposed 80 Willow Road project, filed a lawsuit on Friday, alleging that the city rejected the controversial mixed-use development in violation of state housing laws.

Vitaly Yusufov, son of former Russian Energy Minister Igor Yusufov, owns the project and hired N17 to manage its planning, applications, and any potential legal challenges against the city. Oisín Heneghan, founder of N17, stated that Menlo Park is hostile to new housing development and has obstructed their project. "We regret having to bring this lawsuit, but we had no choice given the city has done nothing but throw roadblocks in our way to delay and deny the project, arrogantly breaking state housing laws," Heneghan said in a press release.

The Menlo Park City Council formally rejected the project on Tuesday, despite a warning from California Attorney General Rob Bonta that the city was violating state housing laws by delaying the plans. Mayor Betsy Nash stated that the development would exacerbate existing infrastructure and emergency service challenges and does not address the city's housing needs.

The project, planned for a 6.7-acre site, includes 665 residential units and 332,000 square feet of office space, with three buildings ranging from 301 to 458 feet tall. The development would typically exceed Menlo Park's building codes, but the city's failure to submit its required housing plan allowed Yusufov to invoke California's Builder's Remedy. A local group, Menlo Forward, has also voiced concerns about the project's environmental impact.