After two years, work has finally started on removing a controversial San Jose monument. On Tuesday, construction workers started jackhammering the three-foot concrete pedestal of the Thomas Fallon statue, crumbling concrete and sending dust flying. The statue, located at the intersection of St. James and Julian streets, has caused public uproar for more than three...
UPDATE: San Jose council wants iconic landmark in the heart of downtown
San Jose officials are considering bringing a towering landmark to a downtown park. The promoters of the “The Breeze of Innovation”—a design that would use hundreds of swaying rods powered by wind to light up at night atop a viewing platform and cafe—want to build the landmark at Plaza de Cesar Chavez. The San Jose...
How one group is working to revitalize downtown San Jose
A longtime goal of revitalizing San Jose’s downtown will require input and energy from a broad group of politicians, residents, advocates and businesses. One venture capitalist hopes a series of meetings will accelerate and complement existing efforts to make the downtown cleaner, safer and bring in more visitors to support local businesses still reeling after...
Can San Jose create a downtown entertainment district?
Providing a fun and safe experience for visitors coming to downtown San Jose are top priorities in a new proposal for an entertainment district in the city’s urban core. Leading this development effort is real estate mogul Gary Dillabough, who believes as safety improves in San Jose it will soon be ready for a central...
Meet San Jose’s new downtown manager
Nathan Donato-Weinstein built his career in downtown San Jose—and now his job is to build the area into the vibrant city center he knows it can be. Donato-Weinstein is San Jose’s new downtown manager—a position focused on the downtown core’s economic development. The business journalist turned business development expert in City Hall has been in his...
Senior high-rise coming to downtown San Jose
A historic two-story building in downtown San Jose will be converted into a high-rise apartment tower for hundreds of older adults, following a green light from city leaders. On Tuesday, the San Jose City Council unanimously approved plans from Roygbiv Real Estate Development to gut the Realty Building at 19 N. 2nd St. while maintaining...
San Jose Vietnamese businesses struggle to survive
Vietnamese residents packed a local restaurant to speak with San Jose’s mayor about the biggest issue on their minds: small businesses. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and District 8 Councilmember Domingo Candelas hosted a town hall with residents Thursday afternoon. More than 50 attendees filled the seats at Nam Giao Restaurant in East San Jose....
Downtown San Jose hotel wants to sell south tower
Owners of the former Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, rebranded as Signia by Hilton last year, are planning to sell off about a third of the hotel’s guest rooms. Depending on what a potential buyer does with the property, some city boosters said the change could be a positive one for the downtown area, though...
San Jose loans millions to build affordable apartments
San Jose is chipping in $25 million toward an affordable housing project proposed just south of downtown, which officials and advocates said is desperately needed as the city struggles to provide homes for its lower-income residents. The San Jose City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved loaning $21.35 million to Berkeley-based affordable housing nonprofit Resources for Community Development to...
East San Jose parents rally for principal’s return
East San Jose parents are calling for Alum Rock Union School District officials to reinstate a principal who was put on leave amid a sexual assault scandal involving a teacher. More than 50 parents, teachers and students rallied in freezing rain Thursday evening, calling on the district to bring back Maria Guadalupe Gutierrez, principal of Adelante...