VTA providing funding to help build transit villages in San Jose

The VTA is going to provide 14 grants up to $175,000 to help spur housing and commercial development within a 10 minute walk from three key VTA light rail stations. Those neighborhoods are Downtown San Jose, Santa Clara Street, 28th Street.

Funding will come from ground leases on land the VTA already owns. No new taxes are required.

This is a great initiative as we absolutely need to densify areas around key transportation routes. It is the only way to grow without contributing to the ever-worsening Silicon Valley traffic. 

Source: NBC Bay Area

Vallarta Supermarkets opening first Bay Area location in San Jose

A popular Mexican supermarket chain is taking over two long-vacant retail spaces at The Plant shopping center in Central San Jose. Toys 'R Us and Babies 'R Us closed a whopping six years ago. That's a lot of wasted space. Now they will become a Vallarta Supermarket in 2026.

Vallarta is very popular in SoCal and offers many traditional foods native to Mexico. The planned San Jose store will be 65,000 SQFT and have both groceries and retail items. It's going to be a full-service grocer with a kitchen featuring many traditional favorites from Mexico and Central America. It'll have a dedicated tortilleria, agua frescas bar, and organic products.

This will also be a strong anchor tenant to attract more shopper to The Plant and the multitude of restaurants and shops already there. Vallarta has 55 supermarkets in California and the next closest locations are in Watsonville and Salinas.

Source: The Mercury News

South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk December 2024

South FIRST FRIDAYS is back this week with exhibits across multiple galleries in three different districts. Everything is open from at least 5-9pm. Participating venues include ANNO DOMINI, the Institute of Contemporary Art, KALEID Gallery, Works San Jose, the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, the SoFA Market, MACLA, Art Ark Gallery, MACHU PICCHU, San Jose Jazz, and Chopsticks Alley Gallery.

One of the more unique parts of this event for December is the opening of HARK! Annual Holiday Show & Sale at KALEID Gallery on First. Over 50 artists are featured and hundreds of unique artworks are available between $12-$250. Artwork is sold first come, first served and you can take your purchases home immediately.

It all goes down on Friday, December 6th. As usual admission is free and all ages are welcome. Click here for a preview of featured art! Below is a map with all of the galleries to check out across all three different districts