Most of the office buildings in San Jose were built speculatively by developers and were not built to suit a specific company. Samsung will have a rare opportunity to really build something that will stand out in North San Jose and showcase their brand. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will decided to create something more unique than a box.
As for location, it couldn't be better for a dense building. They are right on the intersection of two Lightrail lines and minutes away from thousands of homes, hundreds of tech companies in the golden triangle, the @First development, and highways 237, 101, and 880. This is very exciting news indeed. Groundbreaking can happen as soon as mid 2013!
Source: The Merc
I have to say, that while I'm happy for SJ. Just a bit disappointing its not coming to downtown. I really wish the City Council would spend more time focusing on bringing projects like this to downtown. Like Adobe. To make downtown more vibrant we need more people living AND working in downtown and not the outlying areas. This is just another reason why people dont take San Jose seriously as a city. Its still all suburban sprawl.
ReplyDeleteI get the whole downtown desire thing but this location is great. As noted in the post, it's right on the light rail line(s) which in the not to distant future puts it within a short ride to the Milpitas BART and all the connections that will provide. Going the other way you are 20 mins from Mountain View. San Jose needs to get a piece of the action right now and if it's North San Jose then we should embrace that IMO.
DeleteBTW, there is also a totally vacant lot accross the steet ... I'd love to see something go in there as well!
Agree with anon. While I would like to see more commercial/office development downtown, I think this announcement is awesome. Would rather see two office towers in NSJ than NO office towers in SJ. BTW, was downtown yesterday afternoon: DEAD and silent, except for the occasional roar of jets. God I hope this changes one day...
DeleteIf I was Samsung, I would not have built anywhere else but there. The proximity to housing, the light rail stations, the airport, Amtrak, plus near immediate access to 237, 101, and 880 is just a no-brainer.
DeleteNorth San Jose is developing the way we are envisioning it to be in 20 years, let's be happy that Samsung is taking up our vision for that area.
And for the part of "not taking San Jose seriously as a city", oh well, that's the outsiders talking. They can say whatever they want.
What matters is what WE, as SJ residents, think of our city.
And frankly, let's consider it a blessing how large our city is. Alot of folks don't like all this suburban spread, but the fact that our city has a ton of land IS A GOOD THING. Alot of them is undeveloped, or developed very poorly, but the land IS THERE.
Other cities can build a bit outward, and then they MUST build up. But San Jose can build out very far, and still have the option to build upward, for a long time to come :)
I wouldn't call any dense development built in North First, Midtown, or Japantown sprawl since those are being designated as urban centers and already have high density housing, jobs, access to transit, and retail. I would be happier if this was downtown, but I'm not going to complain about this at all.
Delete10-story buildings? That's pretty huge for that part of town. The Brocade buildings are 7 (or 8 at the maximum) and they are fronting a freeway (237). This will be intense if they go that high.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sick of North San Jo thing! Downtown needs to be a sole focus point of growth, not the rest of San Jose like North San Jose. The city is a first class act screw up. Grow the downtown economy! There are legal, financial and accounting firms that could be helped into expanding new spaces downtown and employ more people than a lousy high tech favoring firms. Downtown is sooo dead! It needs to be pumped as a priority!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Jim Fisher. I lived along North First Street when I moved here two years ago. It was dreadful. There's zero life at ground level, absolutely no vibe, quality retail or food. I live downtown now and I consider that while area as suburban Santa Clara - or wherever. I don't ever have any reason to go there, except for the airport, which lightrail can't even effectively help with that. Downtown continues to suffer. I wish the guy who writes this blog could follow me for 24 hours, living and working downtown. It's shocking to see the neglect and lack of plan, focus, etc.
DeleteSamsung = lousy ... are you serious? What planet are you from? This is awesome and all you can do is whine that they aren't going downtown. Seriously?
DeleteYep, they're lousy and very shortminded people for growing in North San Jose, not downtown where it would contribute to streetlife and vitality. North San Jose doesn't do anything for the community, other than bring smog and traffic! Growth should be focused downtown, where people can walk or bike to work, thereby cutting their carbon footprint and reducing smog and traffic. These Samsung employers are backward, suburban flux people who are counterproductive to San Jose and the city's intent on making downtown vibrant and livable neighborhood. Don't get it wrong: I would love those towers and Samsung locating there, but it's in the WRONG part of San Jose!
DeleteWhat you just described is San Jose's vision for North San Jose. It's called "Vision North San Jose"
Deletehttp://www.sanjoseca.gov/planning/nsj/
Check it out sometime. It's all there - public transit, jobs close to work, bike lanes, etc. The city is doing just what you requested...just not quite where you want it.
I couldn't agree with your more Jim!! These need to be in downtown. Continue to grow downtown. not keep encouraging development up North 1st. The city seriously just ignores the downtown core.
DeleteTen stories is a tower?! C'mon.
ReplyDeleteIt is in that part of the world! I can't think of any building close to that between Brocade on 237 and those buildings down around the airport (coincidetaly where Brocade used to be)
DeleteCalling them towers might be pushing it; however, this is going to be a corporate building with tall ceilings so you are probably looking at the height of a 12-14 story residential building.
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