March 2018 Downtown Dimension Highlights

Here are my notes from the latest edition of Downtown Dimension:

• Even though the San Jose Redevelopment Agency has been shut down for years, the Successor Agency is still intertwined in several Downtown projects.
• Twin 17-story residential towers are proposed at 255 W. Julian St. with 653 units, 10,254 SQFT of retail, and luxury amenities such as a rooftop pool.
• The City Council has lowered parkland fees for highrise projects given fewer people on average live in each unit versus other types of multi-family housing. Highrises are defined as buildings 12 stories or higher.
• Two new pieces of Burning Man artwork are being added to San Jose as part of the "Playa to Paseo" program. One will be placed in Plaze de Cesar Chavez while the other is on the paseo between the two Fairmont towers.
• Several city streets are going to be resurfaced and sealed in Downtown San Jose, including portions of 3rd Street, 4th Street, Almaden Avenue, San Carlos, St. John, San Salvador, and Viola Street.

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Habana Cuba is moving to the SoFA Market

One of the best restaurants in Midtown is moving Downtown. Habana Cuba has been a staple on Race Street for 16 years and features some of the best Cuban food in the Bay Area. Now it will be a part of the SoFA Market, which is quickly becoming as successful as the San Pedro Square Market on the other side of Downtown. If anything, Habana Cuba's cuisine will become more accessible to residents and visitors at the new location.

Habana Cuba is closing the doors on the Race Street location on March 24th, and will open in the SoFA Market shortly thereafter.

Source: The Merc

New hotel proposed for SoFA

A 110 room hotel with two level of underground parking is proposed for South 2nd Street and Reed, which is part of San Jose's artsy SoFA neighborhood. San Jose hotels have been doing well enough to justify several new projects, especially in the Downtown area.

Once concern I have is how uninspired the drawing looks. Again, this is being proposed for San Jose's arts district. We can do better than prison aesthetics for this project. Perhaps the developer could let local artists do something creative with the exterior if they cannot afford a less generic design.

Source: The Merc

sjDANCEco’s ChoreoProject Spring Edition

Who: sjDANCEco

What: ChoreoProject, Spring Edition

When - Friday, March 23 @ 8:00 pm and Saturday, March 24 @ 10:30am, 4:30pm & 8:00pm

Where - Location: SJSU Dance Theatre. One Washington Square, San Jose, CA The theater is located in the Spartan Complex building on the San Jose State University Campus near 4th Street and San Carlos Street. (Nearby inexpensive parking at City of San Jose garage on San Carlos Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets.

Tickets - $20 (students), $25 (seniors), $30 (general)

BOX OFFICE: 408.520.9854   www.sjDANCEco.org

Why: Since it’s inception in 2005, sjDANCEco has given opportunity to more than 100 choreographers from the Bay Area (and beyond) the chance to present their dances to audiences in the ChoreoProject programs.  

This year’s Spring edition of the ChoreoProject is geared toward Youth Groups. "For Youth - By Youth." Young dancers (age 13 - 18) from around the Bay and beyond are brought together in an unique program dedicated to the future of dance in an opportunity to share vital and vibrant dance by aspiring youth dancers and choreographers. 

More Information: Groups are still be added, but the following are currently confirmed: Los Gatos Ballet, Independence High School (San Jose), New Ballet School (San Jose), East West Music and Dance (San Jose), Spector Dance Youth Group (Marina), Xiaopei Dance School (Pleasanton), Westlake School for the Performing Arts (Daly City), Urmila Vudali Bharatanatyam (Palo Alto) and Northern California Dance Conservatory (Roseville). Other groups expressing interest are from San Francisco, Berkeley, Monterey, Dublin, and Oakland.

New restaurants and stores coming to Santana Row

It does not look like Santana Row is losing any steam even after being open for more than a decade. More trendy and exclusive opening are on the way, including:

• SoulCycle - coming in May, 3,151 SQFT space at 337 Santana Row
• Ozumo - popular SF Japanese sushi and robata restaurant coming in March, 4,200 SQFT location at 355 Santana Row (former Blowfish space)
• Baldwin Denim - American-made denim apparel coming later this month, 2,000 SQFT spot at 334 Santana Row, Suite 1075.
• Everything But Water - a swimwear retailer coming in early April, 1,040 SQFT spot at 333 Santana Row in early April.
• Pizza Antica - one of Santana Row's first restaurants, is relaunching in late April/early May in an expanded 4,186 SQFT space featuring a craft cocktail bar and more seating.

Source: SVBJ

Thoughtful article on Downtown San Jose's revitalization

The Registry has a great interview with the managing director of Gensler's San Jose office. Gensler is a world-renowned design firm that opened a branch here a few years ago and has been heavily involved in catalyzing the Downtown community. Hit the source link below to read the interview.

Source: The Registry

LimeBike coming to take on Ford GoBikes Downtown

It looks like Ford GoBikes (formerly Bay Area Bike Share) has some competition. LimeBike relies on GPS self-locking system and you can rent them for just $1 for 30 minutes of use. Bikes and scooters with an electric motor cost $1 for 10 minutes of use. All models are powered by solar panels built into the bike and they use foam tires that never go flat. Unlike GoBikes, they do not need to be rented or dropped off at a station. Just use the app to locate a bike and then drop it off near your destination.

It is hard to believe that in less than 5 years we went from having no bike share options to two competing programs.

Source: The Merc

San Jose will pilot tiny homes for homeless

The city is looking at three different sites to build dozens of tiny homes that would provide temporary housing for the homeless. The homes would primarily be for the 3-5 year period between qualifying for housing assistance and when an actual housing unit is available.

Gensler designed the tiny homes, which are designed for 1-2 people and are essentially boxes with separate common areas for bathrooms and cooking.

Before you become concerned that these will pop up in your neighborhood, all three locations are not exactly desirable areas. One is proposed for the southwest quadrant of the 280/680/101 freeway interchange, another is on a VTA staging area on Mabury Road, and the last is at the intersection of Hellyer Avenue and Silicon Valley Boulevard.

I feel like this is a great initiative to house those that need it the most. However, I am also a bit concerned that the more resources we provide, the more homeless will migrate to the area (look at San Francisco as an example). We should really prioritize temporary housing for those that were born-and-raised in San Jose, if we don't do this already. There needs to be some balance between taking care of our own and not becoming a haven for homeless from other regions. Knowing that locals are living here and not transients would also go a long way towards getting public support of these projects, which are very necessary.

Source: SVBJ