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Silicon Valley’s largest hotel is reopening under new branding this spring—a hopeful sign that San Jose’s tourism and hospitality industry are returning to normal. The Signia by Hilton San Jose—owned by Hilton Worldwide Holdings—is the new operator of the 805-room property formerly known as the Fairmont Hotel. The Fairmont abruptly closed in March 2021 after owner...
San Jose won’t split from sister city over Ukraine conflict
Rather than break ties with its sister city in Russia over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, San Jose officials are choosing to keep communication lines open. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to send a letter of peace and support to sister city Ekaterinburg, Russia, encouraging its residents to stand against President Vladimir Putin. A sister...
San Jose nonprofit helps residents track redevelopment
Neighborhood leaders in the Diridon area have launched a nonprofit to keep some San Jose residents in the know about construction in their community. The group, Stakeholders + Neighborhoods Initiative, or S+NI, created an app and website where residents can track development plans and public meetings relevant to Google’s Downtown West campus and other projects. The Downtown West project will...
San Jose breaks ground on affordable housing in police parking lot
San Jose officials and homeless advocates celebrated Wednesday as the city broke ground on a new temporary housing project in a San Jose Police Department parking lot. The City Council unanimously approved the prefabricated housing project last October. Officials hope residents will be able to move in by the fall. “It’s not a secret to anyone that...
San Jose shop owners hope for revival as Post Street reopens to cars
A stretch of Post Street in downtown San Jose closed for outdoor dining since 2020 will reopen to traffic by the end of this week, while other streets in the Al Fresco program will remain closed. On Thursday early afternoon, the one-way street between First Street and Lightston Alley sat almost empty, as barrels used as...
Digital food hall could be economic boon for downtown San Jose
San Jose business leaders have high hopes for a digital food hall to spice up the heart of downtown. City Storage Systems, a real estate company owned by former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, is constructing a new location for several delivery-oriented restaurants in downtown San Jose. The historic building at East Santa Clara and South Third...
UPDATE: San Jose’s Thomas Fallon statue to be removed
The Thomas Fallon statue in downtown San Jose is riding off into the sunset and into storage. The San Jose City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to remove the bronze sculpture, which sits atop a three-foot concrete pedestal at the downtown intersection of Julian and St. James streets. It depicts Capt. Thomas Fallon raising the U.S....
Legal woes still halt San Jose park revitalization
A lawsuit continues to obstruct plans to breathe life into a troubled park in downtown San Jose. Local residents approached a national foundation nearly a decade ago with an idea to build an outdoor music venue at St. James Park, with the hopes it would turn the space into an iconic downtown destination. But as...
Downtown San Jose pizza shop under new ownership after abuse allegations
A popular vegan pizza shop in downtown San Jose is under new ownership following accusations of sexual assault against the previous owner. San Jose couple Ruth Baker and Wesley Tonascia dipped into their “hard earned savings” to acquire Pizza Flora last month, replacing Ryan Summers, who put the restaurant up for sale after allegations of...
San Jose leaders eager to renew special downtown commercial district
A special district that provides extra cleaning and security to downtown San Jose property owners is up for renewal next year, and local stakeholders are eager to keep it running for another decade. San Jose’s downtown property-based improvement district (PBID) expires in December 2022, and the San Jose Downtown Association and local businesses are making...