Milpitas needs to increase its affordable housing, and one nonprofit may be able to assist with its plans by redeveloping some of its commercial space. The Milpitas City Council on Nov. 14 heard early plans to convert the Sobrato Centers for Nonprofits location in the city into a 244-home community with 140 affordable apartments. The...
Silicon Valley leaders question nonprofit on alleged discrimination
Two Santa Clara County city councils aired grievances to HomeFirst officials following a range of concerns related to services and allegations of racial discrimination. The Sunnyvale City Council heard a presentation Tuesday from HomeFirst Chief Executive Officer Andrea Urton and Chief Program Officer Kelly Vazquez about the nonprofit’s city support services and broader metrics countywide....
San Jose apartment complex converting to affordable housing
San Jose leaders are green lighting a developer’s initiative that includes converting a market-rate apartment complex on The Alameda into affordable apartments. The San Jose City Council unanimously approved a financing package Tuesday allowing Larkspur-based Catalyst Housing Group’s nonprofit arm to buy the complex. Councilmember Dev Davis was absent. The council signed off on Catalyst...
Santa Clara County has the second most expensive U.S. housing market
Santa Clara County is the second most expensive county in the nation to buy a home, yet demand is still strong. The county’s No. 2 ranking helps secure the Bay Area as the most expensive metro area in the U.S. for the eighth consecutive year, according to PropertyShark, a blog covering real estate trends. Its latest...
Sunnyvale considers eight homes on major thoroughfare
Sunnyvale leaders are considering opening the door for a developer to build eight, two-story homes where one currently stands. Forrest Mozart, a Palo Alto developer, wants to demolish a single-story home built in 1965 at 781 S. Wolfe Road. In its place, he plans to put up eight homes between 2,000 to 2,400 square feet each on...
Milpitas moves forward with workforce housing for teachers
A Milpitas school district’s plan to help its employees live where they work is coming to fruition. The Milpitas City Council unanimously approved plans Tuesday to demolish a vacant, one-story industrial building on 6.69 acres of land at 1355 California Circle and replace it with 206 townhomes and apartments. All 75 apartments would be affordable,...
South San Jose industrial warehouse projects on hot streak
A Houston-based developer is planning three massive warehouses across nearly 45 acres of land in South San Jose — adding to swath of industrial buildings already in that area. Hines Interests Limited Partnership is seeking approval for a 234,000-square-foot industrial building on nearly 16 acres of vacant land at 644-675 Piercy Road, near the corner...
San Jose housing nonprofit accused of discrimination, toxic culture
Michael Love was hired, housed and fired by HomeFirst — one of five ex-employees who say the nonprofit targeted them because they are Black. Love and four other fired workers told San José Spotlight they faced racial discrimination and were abruptly let go without cause. An investigation by this news organization uncovered additional claims of...
San Jose leaders clear path for new homes in Willow Glen
San Jose leaders pushed forward plans for five new homes in the city’s upscale Willow Glen neighborhood. The San Jose City Council on Nov. 7 unanimously approved a request from Los Altos developer De Anza Properties to rezone a long, narrow one-acre lot at 1655 Lincoln Ave. to allow up to five new homes in...
Google’s mega campus in San Jose hits a snag
Amid ongoing turbulence with office space vacancies, Google and an Australian development firm are ending their agreement to create four work and live districts in the South Bay worth $15 billion, including Downtown West in San Jose. The tech giant on Friday said its split with Sydney-based Lendlease is not the end of its master-planned...