Developers are attempting to use a legal escape hatch to push new housing into South County open space. But county leaders have found a loophole of their own. The Santa Clara County Planning Commission on Thursday voted 5-2 against appeals for two different projects under the same developer. To push the projects through, the developer has...
East San Jose community development nets multimillion-dollar grant
Millions of dollars will turn a mostly vacant East San Jose building into a cultural gem. Local advocates describe it as a vital investment to support neighborhoods where some of the city’s most vulnerable residents live. The School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza recently received $6 million from the Knight Foundation, a historic...
San Jose Chick-fil-A moves forward after planning mistake
A contentious Chick-fil-A project is moving forward after hitting a road bump. The San Jose City Council unanimously approved removing a condition Tuesday that would have required a recently approved Chick-fil-A to construct the development without demolishing existing commercial buildings at 1301 W. San Carlos Street. Property owner Zotta Family Trust and applicant 4G Development...
Santa Clara County rolls out more affordable housing
More than 200 households have been given stability with the opening of two affordable housing developments near Diridon Station in San Jose. City and county officials on Wednesday celebrated the opening of Bellarmino Place and adjacent Alvarado Park, which will provide housing for older adults and people at risk of homelessness. The Santa Clara County...
Sunnyvale development proposes condo, rental combo
A new housing development is one step closer to transforming the corner of a major Sunnyvale road that’s home to car sales lot. The Sunnyvale Planning Commission unanimously voted Monday to allow De Anza Properties and property owners to change their 111-home project to a mix of roughly 85 owned condos and 25 apartments for...
Silicon Valley could see more affordable housing under Trump bill
Amid a tsunami of cuts to the nation’s social safety nets, a golden nugget in the congressional budget bill will allow developers to create more affordable housing. H.R. 1 provides an increase to the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, the primary source of federal funding for affordable housing. Starting next year, states will be...
Sunnyvale has found the secret to downtown’s success
Sunnyvale has found the blueprint for creating a prosperous downtown. Officials have figured out how to balance retail, housing and offices in the city’s core, even with an aggressive plan to build out nearly 1 million square feet of new office space in downtown. Sunnyvale is confident it will attract employers with its live, work...
Los Gatos eyes high-end restaurant, furniture gallery combo
A high-class restaurant and furniture gallery concept could come to an empty corner of downtown Los Gatos. The Planning Commission unanimously voted Wednesday to recommend granting a conditional use permit to RH, a luxury home goods company with plans to open a restaurant and gallery at 31 University Ave. The Corte Madera-based company — known...
Santa Clara County scores millions for affordable housing project
Gov. Gavin Newsom has awarded three California communities millions of dollars for affordable housing — and Santa Clara County hit the jackpot. The Algarve Apartments received $40 million in state Project Homekey+ funding to begin construction on the $79 million project in San Jose. When completed in October 2027, the development will provide 90 apartments...
Cupertino spars with state over developments
The state is not on board with Cupertino’s interpretation of legislation that determines when a development proposal expires. The city is fighting back despite legal uncertainty. Cupertino officials sent a response to the California Department of Housing and Community Development earlier this month, defending their reading of the timeline developers have to resubmit a preliminary...