Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Wednesday Wishlist: High-rises Outside of Downtown
As the population in San Jose continues to grow, we will inevitably need to increase density throughout the city, not just Downtown. The intermediate solution is to build medium density buildings (4-5 stories), which is what is happening right now for both residential and commercial buildings. The long term solution is really opening up high-rise development in areas that are traditionally much less dense, even suburban. The ideal location for these developments would be in places near retail and public transit (Vendome Towers on First pictured below). There is plenty of immediate potential around Eastridge Mall, Oakridge Mall, and Alum Rock shopping centers. In the end this would let us grow in an efficient and sustainable way... not to mention pretty up the skyline.
The city also needs to get mixed use religion in the worst way. For example, North 1st and Julian should be a nice, clean, safe, energetic part of downtown, but the opportunity was completely blown because there is no retail in that area and none (or almost none) of the buildings are mixed use. The area looks nice, but the neighborhood has no life because there's nothing in the immediate vicinity to walk to. There have to be five hundred or more units of housing in six square blocks, and there's not a single coffee shop to serve the neighborhood. *So* much potential unrealized, and that's true for much of the South Bay.
ReplyDeleteDead on about that area! 100% true.
ReplyDeleteMake Moffett our airport in 15-20 years and you could see high-rises spout all over central San Jose. Beautiful 50-story residential high-rises overlooking "Lake Mineta" and downtown San Jose ...OK, enough dreaming for now ;)
ReplyDeleteThere's already a nice high-rise over by the Tamien light rail station. It tanked, and is now a dubious rental property. There won't be much high-rise development until the market firms up. Actually, it probably won't happen until the market has recovered, and then tanks *again.* That's the genius of real estate developers...
ReplyDeleteI wish we would have more green areas accessible to residents (not the homeless). Among downtown's charms are the wide sidewalks and trees. It would be wonderful to have usable green spaces (unfortunately, that always leads to stating the obvious: unless socio economic conditions improve and unless the city decides to reclaim its public areas from the homeless neither retail nor green spaces are going to happen). Stating another obvious: St. James Park.
ReplyDeleteWe could definitely use some more parks and greenery. Groundwerx has been doing a pretty good job of adding new plants throughout Downtown, which at least is making streets more welcoming. Also, I think as soon as any high-rise residential building goes up around St. James park, the area will be substantially cleaned up.
ReplyDelete