May 2010 Downtown Dimension Highlights

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

• Groundwerx gets high praise from their second-year survey:
• 89% of respondents said Downtown cleanliness has significantly improved
• 91% said the overall condition of downtown improved
• 85% approval rating for the second PBID-funded streetscape project
• Sobrato acquires 2 key blocks (no new info here that hasn't already been posted).
• The City Council voted unanimously to reduce fees involved in producing events in San Jose. The immediate impact to the SJDA would be more vendors in Music in the Park, a series permit simplifying the approval process for Starlight Cinemas, and substantial cost reductions in doing street closures.
• Dine Downtown is coming back from June 2nd to June 12th!!! This event kicks off with City Bites on June 2nd from noon to 2pm. At least 29 restaurants will participate including: 19 Market, 71 St. Peter, Affinity, Agenda, Arcadia, Bella Mia, Billy Berk's, The Brit, E&O, Emile's, Eulipia, Fahrenheit, The Grill on the Alley, Gumbo Jumbo, Habana Cuba, Hanuman Thai, Hawgs, Il Fornaio, La Pastaia, Loft, Mezcal, Morocco's, Morton's, Mosaic, Motif, Pagoda, Paolo's, San Pedro Square Bistro, The Capital Club
• 3 new spaces are now open in San Pedro Square: Sante Grill (saw their open sign lit today), La Victoria (re-opening soon), and Starbucks.
• Morton's added a 104-seat banquet room overlooking CityView Plaza.
• Philly Style Food has opened at 93 E. Santa Clara St.
• The Downtown Doors program is seeking to add art to at least 11 new doors downtown. 
• The Civic Auditorium renovation is well underway, expect new seats and new concession areas very soon.
• The RDA is acquiring parking lots in order to be able to widen and realign St. James Street and allow for a new wave of development, including 124 townhomes and 450 condo units.

To read the full newsletter, click here!