Bellarmine College Preparatory, a prestigious private Catholic boys high school in San Jose, is planning for several updates to facilities on its campus in the city’s College Park neighborhood. The 17.6-acre campus could see an expansion to its building space—from 347,000 square feet to 487,000 square feet—if San Jose leaders approve a rezoning and redevelopment...
Mountain View turns hotel into permanent housing
A converted hotel is creating a home and hope for unhoused foster youth transitioning out of the system, families and individuals. Unlike other hotels that have been redeveloped as short-term supportive housing, the Crestview Hotel in Mountain View will provide permanent, supportive affordable housing to youth aging out of foster care and small families experiencing...
The fallout from San Jose’s failed housing plan
San Jose has failed to get state approval on its housing plan, leaving the door open for developers to bypass city housing rules. This is the second time the city has failed to fulfill its obligation to the state in providing a detailed plan for how it intends to add 62,000 homes by 2031. The pitfalls could...
West San Jose condo development to reflect historic roots
A vacant West San Jose lot littered with broken-down cars and tagged fences will be the future site of more than a dozen condominiums, after city leaders gave a developer’s proposal a thumbs-up. The San Jose City Council last week unanimously approved the vision of Los Altos-based Edge Development Group to build 14 “townhome-style” condos at...
Santa Clara officials approve more housing near university
A decades-old blighted corner that once housed a gas station near Santa Clara University will be transformed into high-density housing. The Santa Clara City Council voted 6-1 earlier this week to approve a new housing development near the university. Councilmember Kevin Park was the sole no vote. The approval is key to breaking ground on...
Will San Jose’s Coyote Valley cater to tourists?
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...