The plans for one of the most important redevelopment in San Jose was developed over 10 years ago, which might as well be a century in terms of the development mindset in Silicon Valley. The San Jose Flea Market Area--which is in the immediate vicinity of the first and likely only BART station in San Jose for many years to come--is supposed to be redeveloped into 2,818 residential units and a paltry 365,622 SQFT of commercial space across 120 or so acres (4-6 story buildings). That might have been fine in 2004, but by 2017 our needs for housing, commercial, and supporting retail around mass transit are going to be quite different unless there is a major economic shift.
Going small near BART will only add to future traffic problems and reduce the effectiveness and potential of our multi-billion dollar BART extension. Currently the developers are looking to add 37,000 SQFT of ground-floor retail and an extra 95 units to the northern section of the Flea Market site. It is a tiny step in the right direction, but is far from enough. We have a golden opportunity here to go dense and add tax-generating commercial space accessible to 80% of the Bay Area's population.
As an example, please watch the video below of what is being built in Milpitas a quarter mile away from the Milpitas BART station. The Flea Market project is transit ground zero, the BART station is right there in easy walking distance. What you see in the video below is the absolute minimum we should be doing with the San Jose BART station.
Source: SVBJ
The District in Milpitas from The Registry on Vimeo.
Monday, December 7, 2015
Sunday, December 6, 2015
An Emotional Game
An emotional game. A passionate game. A game only the most ambitious can win.
I write, of course, about the NHL, and more specifically, our Sharks. In today’s fast paced sport with largely even teams, skill can only go so far before work ethic and desire must take over to be advantageous.
Skill certainly helps define how well a hockey player can execute in any given game, but as any ardent observer of hockey can confirm, it is the will and hunger that ultimately determines the difference between winning and losing. In an era where there each game presents no discernible certainty of victory, it is only true desire, which in turn fuels better execution, that provides the advantage.
Many can assume that the Chicago Blackhawks or the Los Angeles Kings, the only two teams to have had multiple Stanley Cup Victories in the last six years, are the strongest teams and have the best chance of winning. While having postseason success is indeed the mark of superior hockey playing, by skills alone, it is inconclusive to determine, on stats alone, that the current Blackhawks or Kings team are better than any other team out there. The Blackhawks, for example, have dropped the last three games in a row.
From a standpoint of skill, the Sharks are unquestionably one of the top NHL teams in the league. If the results of today’s hockey are dictated by skill alone, the Sharks would have no problems finishing in the very top amongst perennial playoff contenders each year. I mean, look at Joe Thornton, arguably the best playmaker on the ice today (still!), and a combination of terrific young talent (e.g. Karlsson, Donskoi, Hertl) to complement the veteran leadership. How about the amazing consistency of Captain Joe Pavelski? Fans will remember, of course, that the Sharks did not qualify for the playoffs last year for the first time in over a decade. Why is that? What happened?
The lackluster finish should be clear to fans of the team. As a whole, there was a lack of emotion, a lack of passion. No aggressive net crashing. No accurate passing or shooting. No desire to take it to the postseason, despite having the skill to do so.
Often times, just by watching the first five to ten minutes of any Sharks game, I can predict the end result. From a game’s onset, if I witness energetic speed, pinpoint pass and shot accuracy, and aggressiveness, the Sharks generally have a good chance of winning. Some of the most exciting games I have witnessed the Sharks play came against the rival Anaheim Ducks last year (a team that finished high in the league standings), where their overt display of toughness and energy allowed them to win in four out of their five total contests (with their only loss coming from overtime). Sure, the Sharks had moments of brilliance against other teams, but the body checks were not as hard, the players did not appear as fast, and the team did not seem to quickly adapt to their opponents’ changing strategy.
It is easy to see when our boys in teal decide to “turn it on,” like in such instances where one would be convinced their proficiency at scoring goals is better on the penalty kill or even strength than the power play. The team’s proficiency is more than just executing good strategies. It is the requirement to be hungry and aggressive. Watch any NHL game today, and you will find that most goals come from an intense rush from one end to another, and with players cognizant of each other’s position as to increase the awareness of where a passed or rebounded puck will end up. Remember, proper crashing of the net translates to goals, as does reading, understanding, and adapting to the opposition.
Last night’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning was a good example of the polarizing impact of playing with emotion. The Sharks lost 4-3 in regulation, but at one time was at a 4-1 deficit in the third period. Early on in the game, the Sharks were indeed not playing well, made worse by bad reads, such as missed passes to the point (i.e. the area in the back of the offensive zone where defensemen often stand) and lack of energy. This is not to say the Sharks displayed no energy (besides, who am I to comment on the ethic of seasoned pro athletes?), but I have seen far better execution.
At the second half of the game, with the Sharks at that point down 2-0, the team started performing extremely well. The Sharks not only maintained significant control of the puck, but managed to get off a lot of shots through to Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop as well. Most notable was the performance of Brent Burns, likely the best example on the Sharks of playing complete, passionate hockey. At of today, Burns is third in the league in points for defenseman, and first in goals (with ten). During the game, Burns not only got unleashed his devastating shot (with a team leading seven), and scoring, he also set up plays for others, and at one defining moment of an offensive power play push, blocked a clearing attempt by the Lightning and kept the play moving. This play set up the first goal of the game from a blast by Matt Tennyson.
Shooting repeatedly at the net, skating hard, and having constant awareness of one’s teammates is critical in the NHL for steering one’s team to victory. The Sharks may have unlocked their potential late in the game, the attempted rally was too late to overcome the struggles of the first half, complemented with timely blocks and fortunate saves by the Lightning. With a game as fast as the NHL, even dropping one’s guard for one minute can be the difference between winning and losing, especially in games where the decision is by one goal.
If the Sharks play like they did the second half of yesterday’s game, they will finish at the top of the Pacific Division. Likewise, if they do not, the team must attempt to rely on their skill to win games; however, as I mentioned earlier on, how far can skill alone really take a team in the NHL? This year, we finally have solid leadership with the team of Joe Pavelski (C) - Joe Thornton (A) - Logan Couture (A). May they inspire the team to carry through a successful 2015-2016 season!
(Despite how the game turned out, wishing all the best for goaltender Ben Bishop, whose unprotected neck was the unfortunate recipient of Tomas Hertl’s deflected stick. Hope for a speedy recovery!)
I write, of course, about the NHL, and more specifically, our Sharks. In today’s fast paced sport with largely even teams, skill can only go so far before work ethic and desire must take over to be advantageous.
Skill certainly helps define how well a hockey player can execute in any given game, but as any ardent observer of hockey can confirm, it is the will and hunger that ultimately determines the difference between winning and losing. In an era where there each game presents no discernible certainty of victory, it is only true desire, which in turn fuels better execution, that provides the advantage.
Many can assume that the Chicago Blackhawks or the Los Angeles Kings, the only two teams to have had multiple Stanley Cup Victories in the last six years, are the strongest teams and have the best chance of winning. While having postseason success is indeed the mark of superior hockey playing, by skills alone, it is inconclusive to determine, on stats alone, that the current Blackhawks or Kings team are better than any other team out there. The Blackhawks, for example, have dropped the last three games in a row.
From a standpoint of skill, the Sharks are unquestionably one of the top NHL teams in the league. If the results of today’s hockey are dictated by skill alone, the Sharks would have no problems finishing in the very top amongst perennial playoff contenders each year. I mean, look at Joe Thornton, arguably the best playmaker on the ice today (still!), and a combination of terrific young talent (e.g. Karlsson, Donskoi, Hertl) to complement the veteran leadership. How about the amazing consistency of Captain Joe Pavelski? Fans will remember, of course, that the Sharks did not qualify for the playoffs last year for the first time in over a decade. Why is that? What happened?
The lackluster finish should be clear to fans of the team. As a whole, there was a lack of emotion, a lack of passion. No aggressive net crashing. No accurate passing or shooting. No desire to take it to the postseason, despite having the skill to do so.
Often times, just by watching the first five to ten minutes of any Sharks game, I can predict the end result. From a game’s onset, if I witness energetic speed, pinpoint pass and shot accuracy, and aggressiveness, the Sharks generally have a good chance of winning. Some of the most exciting games I have witnessed the Sharks play came against the rival Anaheim Ducks last year (a team that finished high in the league standings), where their overt display of toughness and energy allowed them to win in four out of their five total contests (with their only loss coming from overtime). Sure, the Sharks had moments of brilliance against other teams, but the body checks were not as hard, the players did not appear as fast, and the team did not seem to quickly adapt to their opponents’ changing strategy.
It is easy to see when our boys in teal decide to “turn it on,” like in such instances where one would be convinced their proficiency at scoring goals is better on the penalty kill or even strength than the power play. The team’s proficiency is more than just executing good strategies. It is the requirement to be hungry and aggressive. Watch any NHL game today, and you will find that most goals come from an intense rush from one end to another, and with players cognizant of each other’s position as to increase the awareness of where a passed or rebounded puck will end up. Remember, proper crashing of the net translates to goals, as does reading, understanding, and adapting to the opposition.
Last night’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning was a good example of the polarizing impact of playing with emotion. The Sharks lost 4-3 in regulation, but at one time was at a 4-1 deficit in the third period. Early on in the game, the Sharks were indeed not playing well, made worse by bad reads, such as missed passes to the point (i.e. the area in the back of the offensive zone where defensemen often stand) and lack of energy. This is not to say the Sharks displayed no energy (besides, who am I to comment on the ethic of seasoned pro athletes?), but I have seen far better execution.
At the second half of the game, with the Sharks at that point down 2-0, the team started performing extremely well. The Sharks not only maintained significant control of the puck, but managed to get off a lot of shots through to Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop as well. Most notable was the performance of Brent Burns, likely the best example on the Sharks of playing complete, passionate hockey. At of today, Burns is third in the league in points for defenseman, and first in goals (with ten). During the game, Burns not only got unleashed his devastating shot (with a team leading seven), and scoring, he also set up plays for others, and at one defining moment of an offensive power play push, blocked a clearing attempt by the Lightning and kept the play moving. This play set up the first goal of the game from a blast by Matt Tennyson.
Shooting repeatedly at the net, skating hard, and having constant awareness of one’s teammates is critical in the NHL for steering one’s team to victory. The Sharks may have unlocked their potential late in the game, the attempted rally was too late to overcome the struggles of the first half, complemented with timely blocks and fortunate saves by the Lightning. With a game as fast as the NHL, even dropping one’s guard for one minute can be the difference between winning and losing, especially in games where the decision is by one goal.
If the Sharks play like they did the second half of yesterday’s game, they will finish at the top of the Pacific Division. Likewise, if they do not, the team must attempt to rely on their skill to win games; however, as I mentioned earlier on, how far can skill alone really take a team in the NHL? This year, we finally have solid leadership with the team of Joe Pavelski (C) - Joe Thornton (A) - Logan Couture (A). May they inspire the team to carry through a successful 2015-2016 season!
(Despite how the game turned out, wishing all the best for goaltender Ben Bishop, whose unprotected neck was the unfortunate recipient of Tomas Hertl’s deflected stick. Hope for a speedy recovery!)
Downtown for Dogs
Our friend Mark from Think Bigger San Jose has an interesting article on the benefits of dogs in Downtown San Jose. He knows this firsthand as he has three of them himself. Downtown dogs have to go out several times per day to use "the facilities" and stretch their legs. This means residents have to go out more frequently as well, and in turn that means more eyes on the streets and lower chances of people doing stupid things (graffiti as an obvious example). This contributes to a safer and nicer community. It's an interesting point.
Plus dogs are great conversation starters. Who doesn't like running into a friendly pup at the San Pedro Square Market?
Check out the post right over here.
Plus dogs are great conversation starters. Who doesn't like running into a friendly pup at the San Pedro Square Market?
Check out the post right over here.
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Saturday Stats: San Jose Metro is the #1 Mid-sized Region for College Students
The American Institute for Economic Research ranked San Jose as the top metro area for prospective collect students in a recent study. They defined a mid-sized metro as having a population between 1 and 2.5 million and the criteria included work opportunities, cost of rent, culture, diversity, and access to bars and restaurants.
Not surprisingly, we excelled at metrics tied to jobs, the economy, at STEM (science, technology, and math). San Jose was also first in diversity and #4 when it comes to bars and restaurants. However, our metro struggled when it came to rent costs and entertainment.
Austin came in second place followed by Pittsburgh, Raleigh, and Salt Lake City. You can access our profile right over here.
Source: SVBJ
Not surprisingly, we excelled at metrics tied to jobs, the economy, at STEM (science, technology, and math). San Jose was also first in diversity and #4 when it comes to bars and restaurants. However, our metro struggled when it came to rent costs and entertainment.
Austin came in second place followed by Pittsburgh, Raleigh, and Salt Lake City. You can access our profile right over here.
Source: SVBJ
Friday, December 4, 2015
SoFA Market Getting Traction
Now that the SoFA Market has been open for just over a year, it finally seems like it is getting the traction it deserves. 8/10 of the retail pads are now leased. The SoFA Market is currently home to Vero's Coffee, The Fountainhead Bar, On the Flipside, Konjoe Tei, Pokebowl, and Vitamina. Two places are coming soon: Milk & Wood (Gelato on a Stick) and Toasted Craft Sandwiches. It also sounds like the ninth lease will be a pizza joint. Hit the source link below for a nice article on the market's journey. Five years ago, nobody would have thought a project like this would work Downtown. Now we have both the San Pedro Square Market and the SoFA Market helping to rejuvenate their respective areas.
Source: SVBJ
Source: SVBJ
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Bentek Expanding San Jose Manufacturing Facilities
Bentek is a true homegrown San Jose Company that builds electrical products for a variety of industries. They were founded here in 1985 and still remain headquartered in San Jose (2350 Harris Way). They are adding 100,000 SQFT of manufacturing space at 1991 Senter Road in Central San Jose. The space will be used to build AC/DC power products for both the solar and semiconductor industries. Over the past three years alone, the company has grown from 100 to 240 employees, and they are expecting to continue growing in the near future.
Source: San Jose Economy Newsletter
Source: San Jose Economy Newsletter
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Good Karma Artisan Ales & Cafe and Russian River Brewing Company Beer Dinner
Two favorites among many local beer fans unite for a beer-and-food pairing dinner taking place tomorrow (Thursday), Dec. 3 from 5pm to 8pm. As the blog post title indicates, I'm referring to Good Karma in downtown San Jose and Russian River Brewing Company. Additional information - which I previously wrote on Examiner.com - is below.
Carefully crafted vegan dishes will be paired with the following ales – all on tap – from Russian River Brewing: STS Pils (Czech Pilsener), Blind Pig IPA, Pliny the Elder (Double IPA), Temptation (Wild Ale) and Consecration (Wild Ale). While Russian River Brewing IPAs and wild ales continue to be the standards for their respective beer styles among many beer enthusiasts, having these five beers all on tap in the South Bay is a rarity.
Tickets are $55 per person, and reservations can be made via the dinner's EventBrite page. Payment for the dinner will be collected at the event. Good Karma will be open back to the public at 8pm.
Good Karma owner Ryan Summers, who has done much to elevate the local beer scene, recently took the time to answer a few questions regarding the upcoming beer dinner.
How did the idea for this dinner come about?
Natalie and Michael Benz from Russian River Brewing Company had been in town a few months back for business, and they were kind enough to stop by for dinner and a beer. At some point in the conversation, we threw around the idea of hosting a beer pairing and dinner. A few weeks and multiple emails later, the plan was in motion.
Can you please confirm that the five featured RRBC beers will all be on tap?
The lineup is all draught... Pliny the Elder, STS Pils, Blind Pig, Temptation and Consecration. We're lucky that we get Pliny on the regular in Santa Clara County. Blind Pig hasn't been down this way in 6 plus years. And STS Pils barely makes it out of the brewery, if at all. Temptation and Consecration – the sour, mixed fermentation barrel-aged beer components for the dinner – are such a treat.
The love, talent and care it takes to produce beers of this caliber is high art to say the least. We are beyond honored, and needless to say excited, to work with this great list of beers.
Can you provide a sneak peek of any of the vegan dish pairings?
There's a lot to play with when it comes to food and beer. We're excited to rehydrate Guajillo and California Chilis with Blind Pig for the Chili Colorado with young Jack Fruit. We'll be incorporating Temptation with an Exotic Mushroom Ceviche... That's too many spoilers already!
Anything else to add?
I've run Good Karma for almost ten years now. The relationships we've built, the experiences we've shared, the smiles we've inspired continue to inspire and us... day in, day out. The beer community continues to be some of the warmest, friendliest bunch of people I've ever encountered. Pair that with music, food, thought and reflection... the whole world just makes more sense.
Carefully crafted vegan dishes will be paired with the following ales – all on tap – from Russian River Brewing: STS Pils (Czech Pilsener), Blind Pig IPA, Pliny the Elder (Double IPA), Temptation (Wild Ale) and Consecration (Wild Ale). While Russian River Brewing IPAs and wild ales continue to be the standards for their respective beer styles among many beer enthusiasts, having these five beers all on tap in the South Bay is a rarity.
Tickets are $55 per person, and reservations can be made via the dinner's EventBrite page. Payment for the dinner will be collected at the event. Good Karma will be open back to the public at 8pm.
Good Karma owner Ryan Summers, who has done much to elevate the local beer scene, recently took the time to answer a few questions regarding the upcoming beer dinner.
How did the idea for this dinner come about?
Natalie and Michael Benz from Russian River Brewing Company had been in town a few months back for business, and they were kind enough to stop by for dinner and a beer. At some point in the conversation, we threw around the idea of hosting a beer pairing and dinner. A few weeks and multiple emails later, the plan was in motion.
Can you please confirm that the five featured RRBC beers will all be on tap?
The lineup is all draught... Pliny the Elder, STS Pils, Blind Pig, Temptation and Consecration. We're lucky that we get Pliny on the regular in Santa Clara County. Blind Pig hasn't been down this way in 6 plus years. And STS Pils barely makes it out of the brewery, if at all. Temptation and Consecration – the sour, mixed fermentation barrel-aged beer components for the dinner – are such a treat.
The love, talent and care it takes to produce beers of this caliber is high art to say the least. We are beyond honored, and needless to say excited, to work with this great list of beers.
Can you provide a sneak peek of any of the vegan dish pairings?
There's a lot to play with when it comes to food and beer. We're excited to rehydrate Guajillo and California Chilis with Blind Pig for the Chili Colorado with young Jack Fruit. We'll be incorporating Temptation with an Exotic Mushroom Ceviche... That's too many spoilers already!
Anything else to add?
I've run Good Karma for almost ten years now. The relationships we've built, the experiences we've shared, the smiles we've inspired continue to inspire and us... day in, day out. The beer community continues to be some of the warmest, friendliest bunch of people I've ever encountered. Pair that with music, food, thought and reflection... the whole world just makes more sense.
Wednesday Wishlist: Downtown San Jose Bathed in Gold
We all know that San Jose is going to be a major beneficiary of Super Bowl 50 in less than three months. Every hotel room that week has been booked and several events have been planned from San Jose ranging from "Super Bowl Opening Night" at the SAP Center, an expanded Downtown Ice season, a new Guadalupe River Run, and a Super Bowl-themed South First Friday. The SB50 committee is still coming up with ideas for getting Downtown in the Super Bowl spirit. In his sports blog, Mark Purdy posted a new idea from the last SB50 briefing--lighting San Jose in gold during Super Bowl weekend.
Personally, I think this is a great idea. Residential, commercial, and office buildings would be encouraged to use gold illumination during Super Bowl week. This would create a unified theme across the Downtown core. I actually think we should take it a step further. With modern LED lighting, it is easy and relatively inexpensive to plaster any color up on a building. So why not bathe the city in teal during Sharks playoffs or blue for the Earthquakes. The city could turn red for Valentine's Day or Green for St. Patrick's day. It is a low cost way to add some more character and brand identity to the streets of Downtown.
Source: The Merc
Personally, I think this is a great idea. Residential, commercial, and office buildings would be encouraged to use gold illumination during Super Bowl week. This would create a unified theme across the Downtown core. I actually think we should take it a step further. With modern LED lighting, it is easy and relatively inexpensive to plaster any color up on a building. So why not bathe the city in teal during Sharks playoffs or blue for the Earthquakes. The city could turn red for Valentine's Day or Green for St. Patrick's day. It is a low cost way to add some more character and brand identity to the streets of Downtown.
Source: The Merc
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