June 2010 Downtown Dimension Highlights

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

• SJC Terminal B Opens this Month
• The first flights by Delta, Southwest, and Alaska will depart out of the new terminal June 29-30th.
• There will be 40 shops and restaurants in the new airport.
• Free WiFi throughout, every fourth seat in waiting areas will have a power outlet.
• Close by long-term parking.
• The $1.3b project was completed months ahead of schedule and $140m under budget.
• Next phase of the improvement projects will be new surface lots and tearing down Terminal C to make way for future expansion.
• Tons of SJDA Events in June:
• Dine Downtown
• Music in the Park
• Starlight Cinemas
• SJDA is still pushing for an underground alignment of high-speed rail downtown. There is now a possibility of doing a shallow tunnel which would cost less than the originally planned deep tunnel. The only downside is that BART would then have to be a deep tunnel downtown, adding additional costs to that project.
• Late Night Improvements
• Police is working to simplify and reduce costs associated with nightclub permitting.
• Relationships between police and night businesses has improved thanks to a new downtown coordinator position, a "community-policing" model downtown, and businesses taking more responsibility with their promotions.
• New weekly raffles to help keep music and movies free, SJDA has begun selling raffle tickets at SJDA tables.
• Groundwerx Updates
• The Rep Plaza has been adorned with roses, petunias, lobelia, and other colorful flowwers.
• 6 new benches will be installed in Rep plaza and 7 existing ones will be refurbished.
• 9 hanging flower baskets will be added to light poles along with decorative lighting.
• The Rep Theater low wall on 3rd St. and the paseo will receive wall-mounted planter boxes
• Agenda Restaurant & Lounge now has a new chef and a "Southern comfort" spin.
• The Pasta Market and Panda Express have opened in the San Jose Market Center off Coleman.
• The new Hilton restaurant is now called Affinity.
• Red Berry Coffee Bar on 231 E. Santa Clara St. will be serving Barefoot coffee, Ecco Caffe, and Ritual Coffee Roasters.
• Teagre Tea Bar at 22 N. Almaden Ave #100 will be selling organic, fair trade loose teas in San Pedro Square.  They'll have over 100 teas from around the world along with condiments like honey, jam, and chocolate.  Sounds like they have daily tastings too.
• The Downtown San Jose Ross store will have its grand opening on July 16th.

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