Six months ago, developers were seeing major headwinds when it comes to developing new multifamily housing in Silicon Valley, but now confidence has jumped, according to a new report. Ironically, the reason confidence has now increased is the same reason some developers were feeling uneasy about multifamily building in mid-2019: rent control. “It seems counter-intuitive,”...
Marijuana sales banned in Santa Clara; temporary councilmember to be appointed
Santa Clarans won’t see the budding commercial cannabis industry bloom in their city any time soon. The Santa Clara City Council on Tuesday approved a permanent ban on all cannabis-related activity in the Mission City with a 5-1 vote. Mayor Lisa Gillmor cast the lone no vote, saying there’s room to discuss options other than a...
San Jose program for free college gets $250K eBay donation
A program that provides free college to hundreds of underprivileged San Jose students on Monday has received a boost from a longtime local tech business. Through its foundation, San Jose-based eBay is donating $250,000 to the San José-Evergreen Community College District Foundation to support San José Promise, the program that offers up to two years...
Access v. Abuse: Decades of attempts to reform ADA have fallen short
Access v. Abuse: The ADA’s Impact in Silicon Valley Part 3 California often sets the precedent by passing progressive policy, championing everything from climate change initiatives and health care policy to leading the country with fair accessibility laws. But the Golden State has become a breeding ground for controversy, as it far outpaces the rest of the country in...
Study: Prop. 13 reform could add $1.2B in Santa Clara County revenue
A new report from University of Southern California researchers breaks down estimated local benefits of an upcoming ballot measure to reform Proposition 13, including $1.2 billion in Santa Clara County — assuming county assessors can handle the momentous task of implementing the changes. Overall, an estimated $12 billion could potentially be reclaimed by communities across...
Access v. Abuse: Disabled community still struggles for access
Access v. Abuse: The ADA’s Impact in Silicon Valley Part 2 A San Jose father of three took his kids to their cousin’s 6th birthday party at a Chuck E. Cheese one afternoon a few weeks ago, but was stopped dead in his tracks the minute he entered the room. He watched as his kids...
San Jose’s new business tax amnesty program expected to generate $1M
San Jose adopted a business tax in the 1960s as a revenue stream for the city’s general fund, which pays for everything from police and fire service to roads, parks and libraries. And for the fifth time since the law was modernized in the 1980s, the city is offering an amnesty program for business owners...
Access v. Abuse: Crema Coffee in San Jose closes due to ADA lawsuit
Access v. Abuse: The ADA’s Impact in Silicon Valley Part 1 San Jose’s Cafe Crema, known for its charming, cozy feel and homey exterior, closed its doors for good on Friday marking the end of an era for one of the city’s most frequented mom and pop coffee shops. A political bastion on The Alameda...
As San Jose braces for growth, leaders talk how to balance community impacts
When it comes to new office and residential development, San Jose has become the proverbial belle of the South Bay ball after about a decade of almost no commercial growth in the city’s downtown core. Officials, urban planners, business leaders and residents are bracing for proposals that could double the amount of office space in...
San Jose, Santa Clara head to mediation over north San Jose development
San Jose and Santa Clara may soon head to mediation over the future of north San Jose, an industrial part of the city projected to become a major mixed-use hub — if plans for the area can be pushed forward. San Jose city officials have long aimed to see the corner of the city tucked...