To start tracking Dave's progress, access the San Jose 2030 Facebook page here! A website is also coming soon.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
San Jose 2030
I have to tell you guys about an amazing new endeavor that videographer David Manzo has embarked on. His plan is to fully document Downtown's transformation over the next 20 years in a project called San Jose 2030! Over the next several months, he will be videotaping and photographing key areas throughout downtown including the San Pedro Square Market Site, Saint James Park, and other places of historic significance. As major changes occur, he will go back and re-record those areas in stunning high definition. Not only will this capture significant eras in San Jose's history, but it will provide a time lapse of how Downtown will grow and achieve new heights over the next 2 decades!
To start tracking Dave's progress, access the San Jose 2030 Facebook page here! A website is also coming soon.
To start tracking Dave's progress, access the San Jose 2030 Facebook page here! A website is also coming soon.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
130 New Homes Coming to Santana Row
Finally a major housing project is moving forward in San Jose! Barry Swenson has been contracted to build 130 new apartments (flats and townhomes) in the 1.5 acre parking lot behind Santana Row's Borders Bookstore. The project will be at least 5 floors, 4 stories of residential on top of a parking garage which will hopefully accommodate more than just the residents. The new units will likely by rented out first and then sold as condos. Federal Realty is expected to foot a bill of around $30 million, or just under a quarter million per unit. If it sounds cheap per unit, don't forget to factor in the value of the land these units are sitting on top of.
Friday, March 12, 2010
SJC Hypothetical Question
I'm going to play devil's advocate a little bit and throw out a hypothetical question posed by one of our readers, Anthony Dominguez. What would happen if we were to shut down SJC and relocate operations to SFO and OAK? Before you light your torches, hear me out (and bear in mind I'm a big fan of SJC). With high speed rail, the trip from Diridon Station to SFO is going to be a ridiculously low 13 minutes. That's less time than it takes to park in SJC on a busy day. So what would we gain in exchange for losing one of the city's prime assets?
- No building height restrictions in Downtown San Jose or other urban areas around the airport.
- Faster approval process for high-rise development.
- 1,000 acres of prime, develop-able land in the center of
- Substantially less noise for over 100,000 people that live in close proximity to the airport.
- None of the liabilities that come along with managing an airport, especially one with declining passenger volume.
I'm not saying that this is something I support, again just playing devil's advocate ;). Below are some mock-ups that Anthony put together of what a consolidated airport at SFO could look like. If you have an opinion on this topic, as always please post in the comments!
SAN JOSE / 21 is Back!
One of my favorite San Jose blogs is finally back! DLO has a great post on a Downtown Campbell article that showed up in the Merc last month.
Give it a read over here.
Give it a read over here.
Conan is Coming to San Jose!
That's right, Conan O'Brien is coming to the San Jose State Event Center on May 5th! I'm not sure if booking a Cinco de Mayo show in Downtown San Jose was intentional or not, but my recommendation to you if you were able to snag tickets... arrive early and avoid diving down Santa Clara Street at all costs.
If you don't mind going solo, you may still be able to buy tickets here. Otherwise, there's always Ebay :/.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The 88 Promo Video
In honor of The 88 snagging Downtown Condo Owner #1500, I thought I'd share a promo I found that highlights the benefits of living downtown using stories from actual residents there:
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
1500th Person to Call the Heart of Downtown San Jose Home!
Last Thursday Downtown San Jose achieved a major milestone in its history. Sarah Ligda became the 1500th person to clutch the keys of a brand new Downtown San Jose condo! If you've been to downtown lately, you've probably noticed that there are a few more lights on when you look up at the sky and a few more feet on the streets. Despite a rocky economy the heart of our city continues to grow in every way possible: density, eclecticism, and culture. It's becoming a place were people want to live, work, play, and just be. Every key that gets passed on to new condo owners chisels away at the stereotypes and misconceptions Downtown has dealt with for decades and paves the way for a much brighter future.
Now, it is with tremendous pleasure that The San Jose Blog gets to bring you the following press release before anyone else. Enjoy!
***
SAN JOSE (March 4, 2010) Sarah Ligda, a recent San Jose State University masters-degree graduate now working in high-technology in Silicon Valley, was heralded today as the 1500th new downtown resident of San Jose’s two-year surge of condominiums. A resident of The 88 highrise at 88 E. San Fernando, Sarah joins the growing population of singles, couples and families who are finding greater appeal in urban life than the previous generation, a lifestyle also seen as a path toward greater sustainability for the planet, according to officials who gathered downtown to mark the occasion.
Nearly two-dozen new downtown retailers were also feted, including 12 that have opened in 2009 and 11 more planned to open in 2010.
San Jose City Council Member Sam Liccardo, San Jose Downtown Association Executive Director Scott Knies and The 88’s Seth Bland of developer Wilson Meany Sullivan were among the officials presenting a basket of downtown retailer gifts to Sarah.
The 1500th resident marks the move-in of over 850 new buyers, plus a multiplier for household size, in nearly 20 downtown properties since late 2007 when the first highrise, City Heights, welcomed new residents, according to research by Pacific Marketing Associates.
“Sarah’s move to downtown is emblematic of our emerging Downtown populace,” said Liccardo. “She’s a young, well-educated, tech worker seeking an urban environment where she needs to walk no more than a block to encounter a yoga studio, Brazilian restaurant, grocery store, a live theater, and a comedy club. It’s all here.”
“Day by day, we’re seeing small but significant forward-steps downtown, and the addition of 1500 new residents plus our new retailers is part of that story,” said Knies. “The new downtown condominium buildings are bringing more vibrance and activity compared to a year or two ago, and you can see the incremental change every afternoon and evening on the sidewalks and in the restaurants.”
The new downtown retailers of 2009-10 include:
-- Newly-opened in the past year::
The Market by Safeway, E. San Fernando at 2nd
Maceio’s Brazilian Restaurant - 72 S. First St.
Soula Power Yoga Studio - 200 S. First Street
Icebee Yogurt - 151 S. Second St
Silk Road Mediterranean Café - 185 Park Ave
San Jose Glass Artist Alliance – 465 S. First St.
The Heel Bar – shoe repair, service for residents – 134 E Santa Clara St
Love’s Cupcakes - 85 E. San Fernando St.
WOW Noodle Bar - 76 S. First St.
The Old Wagon Saloon & Grill - 73 N. San Pedro St.
Downtown Yoga Shala 450 S. First St.
The Cheesesteak Shop - 76 E. Santa Clara St.
-- Retailer planned in First Quarter 2010
The MMoon Empanada Restaurant - 177 W. Santa Clara St [cq: MMoon with 2 M's)
The Pasta Market - Market Center on Coleman
Pho 69 - 321 S. First St
U-Food Grill - 143 W Santa Clara St
Tangerine Hookah Lounge - Fountain Alley
Morton’s The Steakhouse – expansion (177 Park Ave.)
La Victoria – expansion - 131 W. Santa Clara St.
-- Planned later 2010:
Market at San Pedro Square – open August 2010
Flames Eatery - 88 S 4th St - expansion to add bakery and extra seating - December 2010
Higher Fire Ceramics Gallery & Studio – 495 S Market – Summer 2010
Ross Dress for Less – 27 S First St –June 2010
From the left: Seth Bland of The 88; Scott Knies from the SJDA; Nancy Avila from Maceio’s Brazilian Steakhouse; Sarah Ligda, the ceremonial 1500th new downtown condo resident; Sam Liccardo, City Council Member; Kimberly Beach, store manager of The Market by Safeway; and (Mr.) Meredith Davis, a teacher at Soula Power Yoga.
Now, it is with tremendous pleasure that The San Jose Blog gets to bring you the following press release before anyone else. Enjoy!
***
SAN JOSE (March 4, 2010) Sarah Ligda, a recent San Jose State University masters-degree graduate now working in high-technology in Silicon Valley, was heralded today as the 1500th new downtown resident of San Jose’s two-year surge of condominiums. A resident of The 88 highrise at 88 E. San Fernando, Sarah joins the growing population of singles, couples and families who are finding greater appeal in urban life than the previous generation, a lifestyle also seen as a path toward greater sustainability for the planet, according to officials who gathered downtown to mark the occasion.
Nearly two-dozen new downtown retailers were also feted, including 12 that have opened in 2009 and 11 more planned to open in 2010.
San Jose City Council Member Sam Liccardo, San Jose Downtown Association Executive Director Scott Knies and The 88’s Seth Bland of developer Wilson Meany Sullivan were among the officials presenting a basket of downtown retailer gifts to Sarah.
The 1500th resident marks the move-in of over 850 new buyers, plus a multiplier for household size, in nearly 20 downtown properties since late 2007 when the first highrise, City Heights, welcomed new residents, according to research by Pacific Marketing Associates.
“Sarah’s move to downtown is emblematic of our emerging Downtown populace,” said Liccardo. “She’s a young, well-educated, tech worker seeking an urban environment where she needs to walk no more than a block to encounter a yoga studio, Brazilian restaurant, grocery store, a live theater, and a comedy club. It’s all here.”
“Day by day, we’re seeing small but significant forward-steps downtown, and the addition of 1500 new residents plus our new retailers is part of that story,” said Knies. “The new downtown condominium buildings are bringing more vibrance and activity compared to a year or two ago, and you can see the incremental change every afternoon and evening on the sidewalks and in the restaurants.”
The new downtown retailers of 2009-10 include:
-- Newly-opened in the past year::
The Market by Safeway, E. San Fernando at 2nd
Maceio’s Brazilian Restaurant - 72 S. First St.
Soula Power Yoga Studio - 200 S. First Street
Icebee Yogurt - 151 S. Second St
Silk Road Mediterranean Café - 185 Park Ave
San Jose Glass Artist Alliance – 465 S. First St.
The Heel Bar – shoe repair, service for residents – 134 E Santa Clara St
Love’s Cupcakes - 85 E. San Fernando St.
WOW Noodle Bar - 76 S. First St.
The Old Wagon Saloon & Grill - 73 N. San Pedro St.
Downtown Yoga Shala 450 S. First St.
The Cheesesteak Shop - 76 E. Santa Clara St.
-- Retailer planned in First Quarter 2010
The MMoon Empanada Restaurant - 177 W. Santa Clara St [cq: MMoon with 2 M's)
The Pasta Market - Market Center on Coleman
Pho 69 - 321 S. First St
U-Food Grill - 143 W Santa Clara St
Tangerine Hookah Lounge - Fountain Alley
Morton’s The Steakhouse – expansion (177 Park Ave.)
La Victoria – expansion - 131 W. Santa Clara St.
-- Planned later 2010:
Market at San Pedro Square – open August 2010
Flames Eatery - 88 S 4th St - expansion to add bakery and extra seating - December 2010
Higher Fire Ceramics Gallery & Studio – 495 S Market – Summer 2010
Ross Dress for Less – 27 S First St –June 2010
From the left: Seth Bland of The 88; Scott Knies from the SJDA; Nancy Avila from Maceio’s Brazilian Steakhouse; Sarah Ligda, the ceremonial 1500th new downtown condo resident; Sam Liccardo, City Council Member; Kimberly Beach, store manager of The Market by Safeway; and (Mr.) Meredith Davis, a teacher at Soula Power Yoga.
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