More multifamily home construction could be in San Jose’s future, with the approval of a new developer incentive program. The San Jose City Council on Tuesday voted 9-1 to squash financial penalties for developers who build less than the required 15% affordable housing benchmark, provided the projects are multifamily homes. Councilmember Peter Ortiz was the sole no...
New luxury apartments could boost downtown San Jose
Business and city leaders are touting the recent opening of a 23-story apartment building as a major win in the effort to bring more people into downtown San Jose. Representatives of Boston-based developer Morro, San Jose Downtown Association leaders and Mayor Matt Mahan earlier this month celebrated the opening of The Fay at 10 E....
San Jose leaders approve scaled-down El Paseo redevelopment
San Jose housing advocates are expressing concern over a recently-approved development that dropped its pledge toward more than 100 affordable homes, including a former vice mayor. The San Jose City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a modified plan to redevelop the El Paseo de Saratoga shopping center with a 772-home apartment complex. Developer Sand Hill...
San Jose plans tiny homes on Cherry Avenue
A long overdue agreement between San Jose and Santa Clara County’s largest water agency to build housing for homeless residents has been greenlit and is slated to break ground next month. The San Jose City Council unanimously voted on Dec. 3 to enter into an agreement with Valley Water to build a new tiny home...
Affordable housing preserved for East San Jose families
An affordable housing group is celebrating its biggest win to date after San Jose officials approved the permanent preservation of 18 homes. The South Bay Community Land Trust has spent nearly two years engaging with residents, city leaders and the landlords at 1718, 1724 and 1730 Virginia Ave. in an effort to purchase the apartments...
San Jose sets special election dates to fill open seat
San Jose officials and residents are gearing up for the race to replace disgraced former Councilmember Omar Torres and lift downtown from a troubled past few years. The San Jose City Council has opted to hold a special election to fill Torres’ seat on April 8, with a June 24 runoff if necessary and results...
San Jose report shows ‘inhumane’ conditions at animal shelter
A critical city report highlighting deteriorating conditions at the San Jose animal shelter echoes concerns advocates and former volunteers have raised for years. San Jose’s Animal Care Center is the city-run adoption center that also serves residents in neighboring cities like Cupertino, Milpitas and Saratoga seeking dogs, cats or rabbits. But several residents with firsthand experience...
San Jose LGBTQ+ community grapples with Omar Torres scandal
The allegations were hard to believe. Initial reports of a child sex abuse investigation into San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres reeked of a political smear to his supporters, who had yet to see key details, in early October. For more than a year, the District 3 official faced incessant online vitriol for being an openly...
San Jose officials greenlight hospital expansion
No one at the packed San Jose City Council meeting wanted the West Valley hospital to close or miss its seismic retrofit deadline, but numerous residents wanted city officials to hear their concerns about the company that owns the hospital. The San Jose City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve the environmental impact report...
San Jose council will fill Omar Torres’ seat with special election
Disgraced San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres’ replacement will be decided in a special election. The San Jose City Council’s 8-2 vote on Tuesday was met with applause. Councilmembers Sergio Jimenez and David Cohen voted against the special election, arguing they’re more costly and tend to yield lower voter turnout which favors wealthier candidates. But a...