With Coyote Valley shielded from urban development through 2040, San Jose’s long defended southern reserve is now being eyed for tourism. Some local property owners would like to see a six-mile stretch of Monterey Road—from Metcalf Road to Morgan Hill—developed with restaurants, wineries, motels and bed and breakfasts. But environmental advocates who for years fought to...
Downtown Santa Clara development on hold
After a long night of loud public pushback, the Santa Clara City Council decided to hold off on greenlighting a significant housing and retail complex in the city’s downtown. City Attorney Glen Googins suggested councilmembers postpone a decision on a housing and retail development at 950 Monroe St. until the Downtown Precise Plan—a redevelopment strategy...
San Jose lags on low-income housing goals
San Jose is failing to meet its affordable housing goals for six years running as the city’s housing crisis worsens. City staff introduced an ever-evolving two-year plan during Tuesday’s San Jose City Council meeting to get through 130 projects listed in its housing element, the city’s blueprint for addressing housing needs through 2031. The goal:...
How a San Jose senator aims to cut red tape on affordable housing
A South Bay senator is hoping to speed up affordable housing production statewide with a new bill aimed at trimming back red tape in California’s main environmental law. State Sen. Dave Cortese’s bill, SB 406, would grant local agencies who help fund affordable housing an exemption from a provision of California’s Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) that...
Silicon Valley official wants to speed up apartment construction
A bill sailing through the state Legislature could help build more homes across San Jose and the rest of California, but safety concerns are being raised. Assembly Bill 835, spearheaded by San Jose Assemblymember Alex Lee, would enable developers of new apartment buildings higher than three stories to build only one stairway—eliminating the two stairway...
Condos eyed for former historic home site in West San Jose
A plan to build 14 condominiums in West San Jose, including two inside a reconstructed replica of a historic home, is moving forward. The San Jose Planning Commission unanimously approved a proposal from Los Altos-based Edge Development Group Aug. 9 to build the “townhome-style” condos on a 0.63-acre lot at 4146 Mitzi Drive, at the...
UPDATE: San Jose plans land annex for dozens of townhomes
San Jose officials are clearing a path for a developer to build more than 40 homes near a county medical center on the west side of the city. The True Life Companies, a Denver-based developer, is proposing to demolish 14 residential buildings which contain 30 rental homes to make way for 41 townhomes and 17...
More developers eye North San Jose manufacturing hub
A North San Jose parcel previously planned for a hotel is being eyed for a large manufacturing space. The San Jose City Council will consider approving a plan on Aug. 8 to build a 208,000-square-foot manufacturing and light assembly facility at 350 W. Trimble Road, amid a tech manufacturing and industrial hub in the area. Irvine-based...
Silicon Valley town may be tied up in building rules
Hundreds of new apartments could soon spring up in Los Gatos, as town officials continue revising plans to increase housing. Regulators still haven’t approved Los Gatos’ “housing element”—the state-mandated plan that lays out how towns and cities will help accommodate the state’s affordable housing goals. But builders are still pushing ahead. The town’s initial housing...
Moffett Park development can anchor Sunnyvale’s future
Nearly two decades ago, Sunnyvale Planning Commissioner Larry Klein helped lay out a plan to support continued growth of the city’s burgeoning Moffett Park into the major corporate office and research hub it is today. Now, Klein is the mayor, and the city is once again plotting out a vision to help revamp Moffett Park over...