Housing

Housing

San Jose short-term housing development could fall through

A controversial plan to house homeless people on vacant VTA land in North San Jose could fall flat as officials consider other options. The VTA Board of Directors, composed of 12 officials from across Santa Clara County, voted 10-1-1 Thursday night to bring back a draft agreement for San Jose to build 200 homes with...

Restrictions keep San Jose safe parking site mostly empty

San Jose has spent years and millions of dollars to open its safe parking site at the Santa Teresa VTA light rail station—but it is practically empty. The city’s only safe parking site, which opened in July, has 42 spots, but the city is struggling to fill them despite having hundreds of people living in their...

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...

San Jose landmark in danger of further deterioration

A blighted downtown San Jose landmark is at risk of further deterioration after the tarps and scaffolding that have surrounded it for years were suddenly removed. Preservationists are concerned about damage to the First Church of Christ Scientist building after a local business owner took matters into his own hands by removing coverings while conducting...

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...

Silicon Valley water district helps the homeless and environment

Valley Water is introducing two new approaches to combating pollution created by homeless encampments near creeks—portable toilets and debit cards. The water district announced earlier this week that it will place portable toilets and wash stations at 20 key sites near homeless encampments along the creeks through an initiative called the Portable Toilet Facilities Program....

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:...