Building retail underneath highways and major roads could make a lot of sense for Downtown San Jose, especially where Highway 87 crosses Santa Clara Street and San Fernando Street. Eventually we will have major art installations in both of those locations, but having retail there would take it to the next level. North Almaden and 87 (leading to Little Italy) would be another great spot. I'm sure there are several potential retail sites along 280 as well.
What do you guys think?
Source: Anonymous Poster, Houston Business Journal
Locally, Sunnyvale tried this with it's Greyhound station under the Mathilda Avenue overpass at the railroad/VTA Light Rail/Evelyn. Here's a pic of the old station that's since been torn down. http://img.groundspeak.com/waymarking/display/0efa82d6-1a04-4189-92b2-cb56a0bbab81.JPG It wasn't really successfully integrated into its downtown, nor did it help to extend Sunnyvale's downtown. Once again, it's all in the execution.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this would be a deterent to the homeless or if the homeless would deter the patrons of the business.
ReplyDeleteWhere St John passes under 87 could definitely use some sprucing up.. especially if Little Italy ever wants to take off.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a nice idea in concept, and I realize this is a Wish List post, but I have to say that I think it'll be some time before we can sustain detail under our particular overpasses near downtown San Jose (starting with Santa Clara, San Fernando, St. John). While retail (esp. restaurants) are doing well in nodes of downtown now, like SP Square, SoFA, near the Fairmont, etc... retail is still marginal in other areas, especially along the periphery. The thing that we need first is MUCH more density, to drive greater foot traffic, on both sides of Highway 87. This is something we should be pushing for through the Diridon plan as well as when individual projects come through.
ReplyDeletepop up retail.
ReplyDeletei hope this happens soon! this could create more foot traffic!
ReplyDeleteSan Jose needs retail - good retail - desperately - in the downtown core, not hidden under freeway overpasses or underground.
ReplyDeletethis is nothing new in tokyo. they utilize every inch of space including under freeway/train overpasses and it fits: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ffln9jOvKcc/UrXgTvlZz_I/AAAAAAAAU7U/FCqMh5vgk3s/w1296-h859-no/DSC04059_60_61_fused.jpg
ReplyDeletethen again, san jose isnt tokyo