A study session by the San Jose Planning Commission on the Diridon Station Area Plan this week offered a peek into tonight’s much anticipated public discussion about the high-profile development. Commissioners held a study session Dec. 2 to discuss San Jose’s development plan for the 250-acre area, including Google’s proposed 80-acre campus project. Planning Division...
Housing program for South Bay veterans marks milestone
During the past five years, Destination: Home and its partners have housed 1,940 homeless veterans, making strides towards eliminating veteran homelessness in Santa Clara County. By partnering with San Jose, Santa Clara County and nonprofit organizations, Destination: Home said it reached a milestone this year: for the first time, it housed more veterans — 341...
Does San Jose’s residential building slowdown signal a recession?
San Jose has issued far fewer residential building permits this year — and it could signal a severe economic downturn. “It looks like a slowdown is coming,” said Will Smith, business agent for the IBEW 332 electricians union. “We’re potentially heading into a recession.” Smith’s observation is backed up by the latest numbers released by...
San Jose looks at ways to increase housing for middle-income workers
Middle-income wage earners, such as firefighters and teachers who often are left out San Jose’s housing equation, are the focus of a new effort being discussed at City Hall. Councilmember Johnny Khamis said the city becoming a member of the California Community Housing Agency (CalCHA), which issues government purpose bonds to finance affordable housing, might...
Santa Clara Unified, San Jose in nearly $5 million dispute over development fees
A project to build a massive school complex in San Jose is at the center of an almost $5 million dispute between the Santa Clara Unified School District and the city. At issue is $4.87 million that the school district paid the city for “traffic impact mitigation fees” related to construction at the Agnews School...
Santa Clara County moves forward with airport closure, plans to repurpose land
Santa Clara County is moving forward with closing the Reid-Hillview Airport in East San Jose, county lawmakers decided Tuesday after hundreds of pleas from the community to use the land for affordable housing and other community needs. The supervisors voted 4-1 to begin preparing for a potential airport closure and begin the planning process for...
San Jose to study how Google project might benefit residents
The San Jose City Council met on Monday to discuss evolving plans for the massive Google and transit projects set to reinvent the face of downtown. Changes to the area surrounding Diridon Station have triggered community anxieties—and most recently roused the concern of the San Jose Sharks. The hockey team worried the long-term construction could...
Sharks warn San Jose downtown development may force them out
The Sharks fear the impacts of a massive redevelopment of Diridon Station — which includes Google’s megacampus — could force them out of San Jose. The NHL team says its concerns have fallen on deaf ears for more than a year. Now, they’re pleading with the public to help save the SAP Center, home to...
Low-income housing gets boost in San Jose plan to spend Measure E tax
Strained to alleviate both pandemic-induced evictions and homelessness, San Jose leaders struggled with how to spend $30 million in new tax dollars before unanimously settling on prioritizing low-income housing over rental assistance. The City Council approved a plan Nov. 10 to allocate money from Measure E, a property transfer tax increase that was approved by...
Residents debate height limits, open space near Google campus in San Jose
New apartments built near single-family homes should feature lots of green space — and better not rise too high. These were the top concerns raised by members of the Diridon Station Area Advisory Group (SAAG) Monday night, as the group discussed San Jose’s plan for the 250-acre area, as well as Google’s proposed 80-acre campus project. The...