San Jose officials are restricting water use for new developments, but conservationists want to see the city take more aggressive steps. San Jose councilmembers voted Tuesday to amend the city’s water efficient landscape ordinance—a 1993 rule which is periodically updated. City officials said there’s an urgent need for new developments to only install drought-tolerant landscapes, citing...
San Jose is not jumping aboard the SB 9 lawsuit train
One San Jose official hoped to join Southern California cities in suing the state over recent housing legislation, but her efforts didn’t go far. On Wednesday, Councilmember and mayoral candidate Dev Davis asked some of her City Council colleagues to support a recent lawsuit against Senate Bill 9, which allows homeowners of single-family lots to divide...
It’s all about sports at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds
Santa Clara County has big plans for its 160-acre piece of land at the fairgrounds, but if it doesn’t include a ball, bat or hurdles, well then—no deal. Since January, county officials have entered into three negotiating agreements with various organizations that envision a new future at the fairgrounds. Supervisor Cindy Chavez announced this week...
San Jose’s St. James Park gets closer to revitalization
San Jose and proponents of a downtown pavilion have been in a battle with a men’s social club over St. James Park. Now it may be coming to an end. On April 4, the Superior Court of Santa Clara County upheld an environmental impact report and historic preservation permit for St. James Park, denying a petition...
Affordable housing in Los Gatos faces uphill battle
Los Gatos has an ambitious plan to add thousands of homes in the next two decades, but some town officials and experts say it’s not doable as designed. Los Gatos, with a population of 33,000, has barely grown in the past decade. In its drafted 2040 General Plan, officials recommend building 3,783 housing units in the...
Landmark status for San Jose church is not that simple
Downtown San Jose’s nearly century-old Grace Baptist Church may receive historical landmark recognition, but not everyone in the church is onboard. Grace Baptist, located at 484 E. San Fernando St., is one of the few religious centers still standing from the early 1900s—and its claims for landmark status have merit, historical landmark commissioners said at their Wednesday meeting....
Santa Clara residents miss opportunity to make home upgrades
Even though Santa Clara had more than $1 million available for residents to upgrade their homes, only a small number of homeowners took advantage of the opportunity. Now Santa Clara is putting those dollars to other uses. The city planned to spend about $1.2 million in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and...
San Jose council review: Police shooting concerns, CityView Plaza
The San Jose City Council approved land sales to developers, an emerging mobility plan and lifting the city’s COVID-19 mask mandate on Tuesday. During public comment, dozens of residents called to voice their displeasure over a police shooting inside a local taqueria about two weeks ago. Here’s what went down April 4: Police shooting More than 40...
Santa Clara County grant will transform section of East San Jose
With a financial boost from Santa Clara County, a blighted, mostly vacant block of stores in East San Jose will be transformed into a performing arts space, cafe and sorely needed mental health clinic. On Tuesday, the county Board of Supervisors approved a $250,000 grant for the School of Arts and Culture, which wants to expand...
Silicon Valley housing crisis linked to declining school enrollment, study says
Two pernicious problems in Silicon Valley—lack of affordable housing and declining school enrollment—are closely tied, new research suggests. A recent report commissioned by the nonprofit Silicon Valley Community Foundation says building more housing could help reverse long-term declines in student enrollment across Santa Clara County. Enrollment is expected to decline by more than 15% in the...