Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library - 10th Anniversary!

This month, the Dr. MLK Jr. Library is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with several events. These includes film viewings, live music, contests, activities, a neat art project, and special exhibits. You can access the full list of events at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library website over here.

Thanks Mallory for sending this in.

Serenata Flamenca this Sunday!

Arte Flamenco de San Jose is hosting their largest event of the year at Santa Clara University's Majer Theater this Sunday at 3pm. Flamenco incorporates multiple cultures and influences, including an eclectic mix of guitar, song, and dance. Come check it out and support local art and culture! For more information, you can have a look at the Arte Flamenco de San Jose Website.

RetailNext Tripling Space Downtown

RetailNext is company that analyzes shopping habits and behaviors, even going so far as creating "heatmaps" showing where shoppers are spending most of their time in a store. They currently have a 50 people in their 6,800 SQFT Downtown San Jose headquarters at 99 Almaden. They have decided to nearly triple their space to a full floor at 60 South Market, which will bring them up to 17,108 SQFT.

They were quoted saying that staying Downtown was their #1 priority. They want access to amenities and the Caltrain stop but do not want to pay the high rents at Palo Alto and Mountain View. Hopefully we'll see a lot more companies make similar decisions!

Source: SVBJ

Centerra Breaks Ground Today!

Thanks "Good New Boy" (a quasi-anonymous poster) for the heads up! If anyone has photos feel free to send them in.

Misora @ Santana Row

I received a whole stack of photos from Santana Row's latest residential project, called Misora. This is located right behind California Cafe and Lark Creek Blue and consists of Studios, 1-2 Bedroom Flats, 1-2 Bedroom Lofts, and Townhomes. The amenities and location are as good as it gets, and prices range from the high $2k/mo range all the way up to $10k/mo. The photos below are courtesy of Imagetel Photography.

New Japantown Project Moves Forward!

There appears to be no shortage of San Jose projects getting off the ground lately. The former La-Z-Boy warehouse is going to transformed into 166 units of luxury apartment living at 825 N. 10th Street. The development will feature studios, 1 bedroom, and 2 bedroom apartments ranging from $1,600 to $2,800 per month. As for amenities, they are shooting for "boutique-hotel living." There will be a nice pool (pictured below), a yoga studio, workout area, and I'm sure much more.

Contractors are going to start work immediately on the industrial conversion. Construction should take 17 months with leasing starting in late 2014 or early 2015.

There is also work on an 80 unit for-sale project across the street and a major mixed-use project on the city corporation yard with 600 units. I have a feeling we're going to need more than one Bikeshare station in Japantown!

Source: SVBJ

Little Italy San Jose Updates!

So it looks like there is some movement in San Jose's new Little Italy neighborhood. First off, Paesano's is about to get some company. Bel Bacio Cafe should be opening any week now and they are also trying to get a Pizzeria/Wine Bar. The giant arch at the entrance of Little Italy is a go (design below). Last but not least, they are raising $360,000 to purchase and restore a 1910 Victorian house in Little Italy and turn it into an Italian museum to honor the contribution of Italian Americans in Santa Clara County. So far, they have already raised at least $280,000.

Keep on trekking guys, it sounds like you are making some serious progress!

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Joshua DeVincenzi Melander

Please Help and Spread the word. We have been working hard to raise $360,000 to purchase a property in Little Italy into an Italian American Museum and Cultural Facility. We have raised $280,000 and have secured the In Kind donations for renovation of the Home.

We need $80,000 in the next two weeks!!!

We have Bel Bacio Cafe opening in a few weeks, a 31 foot Arch going up soon, are in the works for a pizzeria/Wine Bar. Help us get the property for the museum!!!

http://www.razoo.com/story/Little-Italy-San-Jose-Museum-Cultural-Center-Project