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San Jose is one step closer to seeing more commuters living next to their neighborhood transit stops. On Tuesday, the San Jose City Council unanimously approved hundreds of residences near the Blossom Hill light rail station. The project is part of VTA’s long-term plan to develop its land along the agency’s transit corridors. By leasing...
San Jose needs better planning to reach housing goals
San Jose has a hefty goal to build 62,200 homes in the next eight years, but it won’t meet that goal without drastically changing its approach. With the city working to update its plan for future housing, officials aim to spend money to subsidize affordable housing, strategically place development in areas that are equitable and...
Looking to rent in Silicon Valley? Get in line
Silicon Valley remains one of the most sought after rental markets in California, despite being one of the most costly. In a new study by apartment search site RentCafe, Silicon Valley ranked 8 out of 11 top rental markets in the state. The study looked at the number of renters competing for an apartment, occupancy and vacancy...
Cesar Chavez’s San Jose home to become community center
The family home of one of San Jose’s greatest activists will be transformed into a community center, continuing his work for future generations. Nonprofit Amigos de Guadalupe, with the city’s help, purchased the the family home of Cesar Chavez this week. The historical landmark at 53 Scharff Ave. in East San Jose has been in...
San Jose affordable housing policy delayed
Affordable housing is a rare find in Silicon Valley, but one policy could make it more attainable—if it ever makes it back to the City Council. The Community Opportunity to Purchase Act, or COPA, is a policy that would give qualified nonprofits first rights to make an offer on a residential property and keep more...
San Jose has no plans to address vacant homes
Amid an ongoing housing crisis, thousands of San jose homes are sitting empty—but City Hall has no plan to address it. The latest U.S. Census data shows 13,769 San Jose homes were not occupied in 2020. Vacant properties include those for rent, waiting to be sold and those not on the market, which may have been left...
4th Street Pizza in Downtown San Jose closing up shop
An iconic pizza shop favored by San Jose politicos and downtown residents alike is going under. The co-founders of 4th Street Pizza Co. told San José Spotlight they have to close their 16-year-old business by October when their lease expires. The developer who purchased the building before the pandemic, Bayview Development Company, is going to...
San Jose sees rising property values despite economic woes
The value of taxable properties in San Jose skyrocketed last year thanks to demand for luxury homes and new construction. Experts and county officials say the growth won’t last. At the heart of wealthy Silicon Valley, the assessed value of all property grew by $15 billion over the last 12 months—a jump from $215.9 billion to $231...
A $9,000 mortgage in San Jose? That’s ‘reasonable,’ realtors say
For 15 years, Matthew Quevedo and his wife, A’Dreana, moved from apartment-to-apartment in San Jose. They started with a $900 a month one-bedroom in the Seven Trees neighborhood when they were both 18 years old, making $12 an hour at Home Depot. But in October 2020, after years of saving up, they got a piece...
County commission rejects plan to demolish old San Jose City Hall
A proposal to demolish San Jose’s former City Hall has encountered resistance from a county commission and local preservationists. The Santa Clara County Historical Heritage Commission voted unanimously last week against an application to demolish the old City Hall at 801 N. 1st St. The recommendation will be referred to the Board of Supervisors, which will make...
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