Santa Clara County’s second largest city just got its housing plans approved by the state, kickstarting 45 programs to increase development and put a dent in the housing crisis. After three rounds of review by the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development, Sunnyvale’s housing element was approved March 6 — more than a year...
Los Gatos inches toward more affordable housing
Los Gatos is one step closer to securing state approval for its housing plan, more than a year after the deadline and months of contention among town officials. The town submitted the latest draft of its housing element — a detailed planning document laying out how Los Gatos will accommodate more affordable and market-rate housing...
San Jose labor leader questions strength of city’s wage theft rules
San Jose officials have gotten stricter about labor protections over the last year, disqualifying companies with a history of wage theft from winning city contracts. But labor advocates say the city still isn’t doing enough to protect workers. South Bay labor leaders question whether companies with a history of lower level infractions and no state...
Historic downtown San Jose park revamp hit with major setback
The plan to turn a historic-yet-blighted downtown San Jose park into a major event venue as part of the city’s revitalization plans faces a major delay. After a four-year battle over a redesign of St. James Park between the city and the Saint Claire Club — the second oldest men’s club in California — the...
San Jose suits up to fight mold at future homeless housing site
A development site for homeless residents in South San Jose is blanketed in blue tarps to get rid of mold from months of neglect. Three days after San José Spotlight broke the story about pre-built homes arriving in poor condition, the site is peppered in mold remediation signs over tarped buildings and employees working in...
Campbell warehouse approved after resident appeal falls flat
A Campbell warehouse project is moving forward in a small industrial section of the city, despite neighbors’ insistence that it will create an eyesore in their backyards. The Campbell City Council last Tuesday voted 3-2 to deny an appeal for revisions to the development from residents living behind the proposed site, located at 940-946 S. McGlincy Lane....
Housing for San Jose homeless residents is a ‘big mess’
A multimillion-dollar effort to put homeless people in pre-built housing — that San Jose officials championed as cheap and revolutionary — is delayed due to homes arriving unfinished. The $70-million three-story modular housing project that San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and his predecessor Sam Liccardo heralded at 1 Branham Lane also has mold, plumbing and...
Hundreds of homes coming to north Santa Clara neighborhood
There’s a near constant cacophony of hammering, drilling and welding near the Great America Amtrak station as Santa Clara builds up its transit-oriented housing. The Santa Clara City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a tentative map for another project along this busy stretch of the city. The latest development is a 21-floor, 198-condominium complex. The...
Downtown San Jose high-rise aimed at college students
Plans years in the making for a 25-story apartment tower across from San Jose State University are moving forward. The San Jose City Council on March 12 is slated to consider greenlighting developer Nelly Amas’ plans for a 210-apartment building at 439 S. Fourth St. Councilmembers have final say on the project after it received...
Santa Clara County deal brings teacher housing to Cupertino
Living as a teacher in the West Valley may become cheaper as more affordable housing is prioritized for educators. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors earlier this month unanimously approved a proposal from developer Eden Housing to build affordable teacher and school worker housing in Cupertino. The move aims to address the county’s high cost...