December 2009 Downtown Dimension Highlights

Here are my notes from the December edition of Downtown Dimension:

• Economic Impact of the Holidays in Downtown San Jose:
• Almost 500,000 visitors
• 1,000 room stays
• 100,000 San Jose Holiday Parade spectators
• Downtown Ice hosts 40,000 skaters
• Due to budget cuts, all RDA projects are on a temporary hold except for a few that have already been committed:
• San Pedro Square Urban Market ($6m)
• Convention Center Expansion Phase 1 ($6.2m)
• Civic Auditorium Upgrade ($3.1m)
• Facade Improvement Program ($1.4m)
• A primary/urgent care facility may return to Downtown San Jose.  The old 38,000sqft former San Jose Medical center would be upgraded using a $50m bond from 2008's Measure A. The final project may also include housing, retail, and additional medical offices.
• 1stACT is continuing to focus on various improvements, such as improving SoFA and "transforming Guadalupe River Park into San Jose's Central Park" (::awesome::).
• SoFA improvements include more music and events, live music inside businesses, adding bike racks, murals, street banners, and plans to improve Gore park.
• Guadalupe River Park and Gardens plans are in progress.
• Current efforts include: improving the bicycling experience downtown, adding more free WiFi, implementing additional public art, and promoting more sidewalk cafes and street vendors.
• Groundwerx will be extending their beautification efforts on First St. between San Carlos and San Fernando. Get ready for 19 new planters, flower baskets, and my personal favorite... LED tree lighting.
• R&J Jewelry reopens at First and Santa Clara.
• Morton's & Flames restaurants are expanding (first time I heard about this)
• Chillfactor Yogurt Lounge opened its doors on 312 S. Third St.
• Mission Ale House has been sold and will be changing names to Freddie J's Bar & Lounge. The plans are to bring live music such as Jazz into the space.
• Groudwerx Stats (just a few of my favorites):
• 46 tons of sidewalk garbage removed
• 14,644 graffiti tags removed
• 45,000 directions given

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