New Affordable Homes Set to Transform San Jose’s Housing Landscape

San Jose is taking a significant step toward addressing its housing needs with a new affordable housing development that’s ready to break ground. This project, located on a 0.97-acre site, will bring 158 rent-restricted units to the city, offering a mix of studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, along with two manager’s units. This development is a vital addition to San Jose’s ongoing efforts to provide accessible housing options for residents across various income levels, reinforcing the city’s commitment to inclusive growth.

The project’s approval comes with secured construction financing, a critical milestone that ensures its progress. This development will rise as a five-story building, designed to maximize space while creating a welcoming community for future residents. By focusing on affordability, San Jose is making strides to ensure that teachers, healthcare workers, and other essential professionals can live closer to where they work, fostering stronger community ties and reducing commute times.

This housing initiative is part of a broader wave of development activity in San Jose. From Downtown to the city’s outer neighborhoods, new projects are reshaping the urban landscape. The focus on affordable housing aligns with the city’s vision to balance growth with accessibility, ensuring that San Jose remains a place where people from all walks of life can thrive. The addition of these units will help ease the pressure on the local housing market, offering relief to those struggling to find affordable options in a competitive region.

The timing of this project couldn’t be better, as San Jose continues to attract new residents and businesses. With its proximity to major tech hubs and a thriving Downtown, the city is well-positioned to support a growing population. Affordable housing developments like this one ensure that San Jose remains a welcoming destination for families, young professionals, and seniors alike, all while maintaining its reputation as a hub of innovation and opportunity.

Source: SiliconValley.com

San Jose's Music Scene Shines with 40 Upcoming Concerts in 2025

The San Jose metro welcomes a dynamic lineup of live performances this year, featuring 40 concerts across various genres that showcase the area's thriving entertainment options. From country stars to rock legends, these events at venues like SAP Center, Levi’s Stadium, and The Mountain Winery in nearby Saratoga draw crowds eager for memorable nights. Highlights include major tours and special guests, making it wise to grab tickets early before popular shows sell out.

Early August kicks off with Morgan Wallen at Levi’s Stadium on Friday, August 1, and Saturday, August 2, joined by Miranda Lambert, Brooks & Dunn, and Anne Wilson for his I’m the Problem Tour 2025. That same weekend, Lynyrd Skynyrd brings classic rock hits like Sweet Home Alabama to The Mountain Winery on August 1, followed by Rick Springfield's I Want My ‘80s Tour with John Waite, Wang Chung, and Paul Young on August 2. Mid-month features Anuel AA's Real Hasta la Muerte 2 Tour at SAP Center on August 8, and Parker McCollum with Ashley Cooke on August 15, while Stunna Girl performs at Club Rodeo Rio that evening.

The momentum continues with The Beach Boys' Sounds of Summer Tour at The Mountain Winery on August 17, Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms on August 19, and Save Ferris at The Ritz on August 21. Marco Antonio Solís takes the stage at SAP Center on August 22, Dave Matthews Band at Shoreline Amphitheatre on August 23, and Diana Ross at The Mountain Winery on August 16. Later dates include ZZ Top with Night Ranger on August 28 and a rock triple bill of The Offspring, Jimmy Eat World, and New Found Glory at Shoreline on August 30, promising diverse sounds for every taste.

These concerts not only entertain but also highlight San Jose as a hub for cultural experiences, blending local accessibility with world-class talent.

Source: SJ Today

San Pedro Saturdays Brings Creativity to Life in Downtown San Jose

The next San Pedro Saturdays is a fresh outdoor event dedicated to stationery, handmade crafts, and artistic expression. Set for July 26 from noon to 5 p.m., this gathering transforms Stationery Depot at 60 N. San Pedro Street into a hub for local talent. More than 20 artists, makers, and illustrators will display their notebooks, washi tapes, stickers, greeting cards, and notepads, offering visitors a chance to find one-of-a-kind items that spark joy and inspiration.

Attendees can dive into hands-on activities that make the day interactive and memorable. Options include crafting watercolor patterns and letterpress printing greeting cards with Love Through Letterpress and Sherry’s Palette, where supplies come free and each person takes home a card. Other highlights feature designing personalized postcards at Yours Truly, Mary Anne, swapping stickers at the MOMENT Trading Post, and decorating bookmarks or journals at a DIY station. A coloring area at Sueños adds flair with designs inspired by flowers, butterflies, and cultural icons, ensuring something for every age group.

Special touches elevate the experience, such as an exclusive Stationery Depot sticker sheet giveaway for the first 300 guests, created by Hungry Whales. Partnerships with organizations like SJMADE, the City of San Jose, and San Pedro Square support this community-driven initiative. Free parking for 90 minutes in nearby garages, including the Market & San Pedro Square Garage, makes it easy to join in.

Events like San Pedro Saturdays strengthen the bonds in Downtown San Jose by spotlighting local creators and encouraging shared creativity. They draw people together to celebrate the city's artistic side and build lasting connections.

San Jose Steps Up as Premier Entertainment Destination for 2026 and Beyond

San Jose is transforming its Downtown core into a lively center for events and gatherings, setting the stage for an unforgettable 2026. The city council's recent unanimous vote turned Post Street into a pedestrian mall, much like the beloved San Pedro Square, enhancing walkability and inviting more foot traffic. This move, coupled with the approval of six new entertainment districts Downtown, opens doors for organizers to host vibrant events where people can enjoy drinks while strolling the streets. Mayor Matt Mahan highlighted these zones as essential for fostering a dynamic atmosphere, and now the city awaits proposals from creative minds to bring them to life.

Major events on the horizon promise to elevate San Jose's profile significantly. With Super Bowl LX and FIFA World Cup matches at Levi's Stadium in nearby Santa Clara, the Bay Area expects around 350,000 visitors from outside the region, generating about $600 million in labor income. Local leaders like San Jose Downtown Association interim CEO Gumby Marques emphasize the importance of showcasing Downtown's best features to build lasting civic pride. Ongoing beautification efforts, including murals and improvements along the Santa Clara corridor, add to the appeal, ensuring the city shines not just for 2026 but beyond.

Established festivals and conventions already demonstrate San Jose's growing draw. The Fountain Blues & Brews festival marked its 42nd year in June with record attendance of about 5,000 people, fueled by live music and a strong sense of community. FanimeCon, the city's largest convention this year, boosted local businesses like Pizza My Heart to historic revenue highs. Nvidia's GTC conference brought a 132% surge in restaurant visits, while events featuring DJs like Steve Aoki and Fisher drew thousands to plazas and streets. These successes underline how events vitalize Downtown and position San Jose as a must-visit spot.

Beyond events, hospitality plays a key role in sustaining this momentum. San Jose boasts 4,500 hotel rooms Downtown and 10,000 citywide, though experts like Sharks Sports & Entertainment president Jonathan Becher call for a shift toward family-friendly designs to attract more leisure travelers. Overcoming the image of a mere business stopover, the city is prioritizing entertainment and arts to stand out. With upcoming highlights like the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and NWSL National Championship, San Jose is aligning investments to claim its spot as the West's sports and entertainment capital.

Source: SVBJ

San Jose Leads with Major Progress on Unsheltered Homelessness

San Jose demonstrated effective strategies in addressing homelessness as the 2025 Point-in-Time Count reveals a nearly 23 percent drop in unsheltered residents since 2019, bringing the number down from over 5,100 to about 4,000. This achievement reflects the city's commitment to expanding shelter options, with the sheltered population growing by 160 percent over the same period, from 980 to 2,544 individuals. Such advancements position San Jose ahead of regional and state averages, where the sheltered rate now stands at nearly 40 percent, surpassing Santa Clara County's 30 percent and California's 34 percent.

City initiatives focus on immediate solutions like Emergency Interim Housing and hotel leases, with plans to add over 1,000 beds by the end of 2025. These efforts contrast with broader trends in Santa Clara County outside San Jose, which saw an increase of more than 700 unsheltered people since 2019 and a decline in its sheltered rate to 16.5 percent. San Jose's approach emphasizes bringing people indoors quickly and connecting them to services, setting an example for other communities to follow in tackling encampments.

Mayor Matt Mahan highlighted the impact, stating, “San José has proven that investing in shelter and interim housing works — now it’s time for every city and county to step up and do their fair share.” City Manager Jennifer Maguire added, “The city has made significant progress in reducing unsheltered homelessness. This year, we expect to open additional sites that include Emergency Interim Housing and hotel leases. Providing a diverse set of sites ensures we have dignified options for our unhoused community to come off the streets and into a safe location.” Ongoing counts by the Housing Department will provide further insights early next year, reinforcing San Jose's proactive stance.

Source: San Jose Inside

Sports Drive San Jose Forward: Preparing for a Spotlight in 2026

San Jose steps into the limelight as Bay Area sports teams lead urban renewal efforts, with city leaders highlighting long-term investments at a recent Business of Sports event. Tommy O’Hare, the city's sports and special events director, emphasized viewing events as ongoing opportunities rather than isolated moments, pointing to initiatives like the stitching districts project that connects San Jose's 10 districts both physically and symbolically. With Super Bowl LX and the FIFA World Cup set for 2026, these gatherings provide a clear timeline to energize the region's largest city through targeted improvements.

Efforts already underway include beautifying the Guadalupe River and refreshing Downtown underpasses with fresh paint, all aimed at welcoming the expected influx of visitors. O’Hare noted that such preparations extend beyond the venues, collaborating with local businesses like Adobe to shape overall visitor experiences. Meanwhile, Bay FC CEO Brady Stewart shared how sports unite communities, expressing enthusiasm for the global attention on the Bay Area, while the team uses technology like fan surveys to refine interactions and achieve high satisfaction scores.

Looking ahead, San Jose envisions a thriving sports and entertainment district in Downtown, potentially featuring one or two stadiums to solidify its position as the heart of Silicon Valley. Bay FC aims high too, aspiring to become the first billion-dollar women’s sports franchise with its own dedicated stadium, moving beyond sharing PayPal Park. These developments promise to foster community ties, support youth programs, and create lasting vibrancy that benefits residents year-round.

Source: SVBJ

 

Chayakada Brining Custom Chai to San Jose

San Jose gains a unique spot for tea lovers with the opening of Chayakada at 117 Bernal Road, Suite 80, where each cup of chai gets brewed from scratch on the stovetop to match individual tastes. Owner Aleena Thomas, hailing from Kerala in southern India, brings the concept of a traditional chayakada to life as a dedicated tea shop with snacks and bistro food, marking what she describes as the first of its kind in the United States. After leasing the 4,000-square-foot space in November 2024 and securing permits in May, the cafe welcomed guests starting June 1, filling a gap in personalized chai options often overlooked in favor of standard recipes at restaurants.

The menu extends beyond drinks to include dozens of homestyle meals and baked snacks, all prepared in-house by a five-person team without outside investors. Thomas envisions the space as more than a quick stop, incorporating a kids library, game room, lounge area, and multipurpose hall for events to encourage lingering and connection. On opening day, around 500 visitors arrived, leading to nearly 600 free cups of chai served, while the first week saw 1,000 people, five catering events, and hundreds more cups poured, as shared on their Instagram.

This addition highlights San Jose's growing diversity in culinary experiences, drawing from global traditions to create welcoming environments. With its focus on accessibility and customization, Chayakada invites residents to explore new ways to enjoy chai while fostering a sense of belonging in the community.

Source: SVBJ

New Housing Takes Shape at Santana Row: 258 Units on the Horizon

San Jose keeps advancing with fresh residential options, and the latest proposal from Federal Realty Investment Trust at 358 Hatton Street in Santana Row promises to further elevate the area's appeal. This five-story complex will introduce 258 market-rate units tailored for younger professionals, including 95 studios, 131 one-bedroom units, and 32 two-bedroom units. Set within the vibrant Santana Row mixed-use district, the project transforms a current surface parking lot into a modern living space that complements the surrounding shops, restaurants, and entertainment at Valley Fair Mall.

The design by BDE Architecture features a grey and tan facade with contemporary wood accents, creating an inviting structure that blends seamlessly with Santana Row's aesthetic. Residents will enjoy outdoor amenities like a courtyard and pool, promoting relaxation and community interaction in a walkable environment. With easy access to daily necessities on foot and convenient freeway connections to 280 and 880 for commuting, this development supports a balanced lifestyle in West San Jose.

Progress moves swiftly on this long-planned addition to Santana Row, with groundbreaking anticipated soon and completion targeted for mid to late 2027 after about 26 months of construction. As part of broader efforts to expand housing in the city, the project addresses growing demand while enhancing the neighborhood's vitality. San Jose residents and newcomers alike stand to benefit from these thoughtful expansions that make the city an even more desirable place to call home.

Source: SF YIMBY

New Condos Rising on West San Carlos: A Fresh Boost for San Jose Living

San Jose continues to evolve with innovative projects that enhance its urban fabric, and the latest proposal at 1470 West San Carlos Street stands out as a promising addition. This seven-story development aims to bring 180 condominiums to the corner of West San Carlos and Willard Avenue, replacing a vacant lot and an underutilized commercial building on a 0.85-acre site. Owned by affiliates linked to local business leaders Thahn Nguyen, Dylan Nguyen, and Margaret Pham, the project includes 1,700 square feet of ground-floor retail or office space, creating a mixed-use hub that supports both residents and nearby businesses.

The residential mix caters to diverse needs with 141 two-bedroom units, 21 one-bedroom units, and 18 three-bedroom units, all designed in a donut-shaped building that centers outdoor open space for residents. This layout shields the communal area from street noise and traffic while keeping it accessible, fostering a sense of community in a bustling corridor. Developers from WSC Development emphasize how this setup aligns with the West San Carlos Urban Village Plan, turning an overlooked parcel into vital housing that encourages walking or biking to Downtown San Jose for work and daily activities.

What makes this project particularly noteworthy is its focus on for-sale condos, a rarity in the West San Carlos area where rental developments often dominate. Real estate experts like Bob Staedler from Silicon Valley Synergy highlight the corridor's potential for substantial housing growth in the coming years. By pursuing a streamlined approval process under California's SB 330 law, the team aims to deliver a standout building that draws new residents and invigorates local commerce, contributing to San Jose's vibrant future.

Source: SiliconValley.com 

Danny the Dragon Roars Back: A Refreshed Adventure at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo

San Jose families have a timeless favorite returning with a modern twist as Happy Hollow Park & Zoo reopens the Danny the Dragon ride after a thorough nine-month renovation. This beloved attraction, originally built in 1958, now features an updated journey through five themed lands that mirror the park's diverse habitats. Riders will glide along the half-mile track, exploring areas like a farm, jungle, and land of enchantment, all designed to create an immersive storyline that sparks wonder for visitors of all ages.

Over $600,000 was raised by donors to the Happy Hollow Foundation (I'm proud to be one of them). City staff dedicated nearly a year of skilled work to bring the vision to life, replacing the original fluorescent tunnel and storybook theme with something more engaging for today's guests. This marks the ride's first scenery refresh in 64 years, blending nostalgia with contemporary appeal to draw in new generations.

Since Happy Hollow opened in 1961, attractions like Danny the Dragon have created lasting memories, with parents and grandparents sharing stories of their own childhood rides. Now, this revitalized ride stands ready to welcome guests. The official ribbon cutting was yesterday and Danny the Dragon is now ready for visitors to enjoy immediately.