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Time to put on your hard hat

Your guide to understanding development news in San Jose, CA

The exterior construction of the Paseo mixed-use development.

The Paseo mixed-use development project in the works at 201 S. Second St. | Photo by SJtoday

If you want to be a development detective but find yourself turned around by the terminology in various city releases + news reports, never fear.

Here are some definitions of common terms paired with ongoing projects and examples you might recognize in the great 408.

Mixed-use

Projects that provide more than one purpose in the community, like a building with apartments on top and retail shops on the bottom. Expect to see combinations of housing, retail, parking, commercial, and industrial components.

Think: Google’s upcoming Downtown West Transit Village will have plenty of mixed-use spaces.

Rezoning

Changing an area of land from the city’s designated use. Examples of rezoning requests might be developers looking to build a high-rise in a neighborhood with a certain building height restriction, or opening a business in a residential area.

Pro-tip: Follow this interactive map that outlines local properties being rezoned in accordance with Senate Bill 1333.

A map of Google's Downtown West Mixed-Use Plan. — This map shows the different uses each parcel of land will be utilized for.
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Screenshot via City of San José website

Special-use permit

Granted to provide relief from regulations when land is being used in a manner not normally compatible with the zoning. Only granted when intended site use is deemed appropriate and compatible with the surrounding area.

Pro-tip: Consider this form when differentiating planning and special use permits.

Enterprise zone

Areas of the city where building a site earns you incentives, including a break on real estate taxes and money back from costs of relocating, machinery + equipment, and construction permits. The goal is to promote economic development, so only certain commercial and industrial users qualify.

Think: The 18-square mile Enterprise zone in San Jose includes downtown, along with its retail, commercial, and tech business headquarters.

4 more development definitions

Events

Monday, April 17

Poetic Alchemy | Monday, Apr. 17 | 7-9 p.m. | Hammer Theatre, 101 Paseo De San Antonio, San Jose | Free | Take part in an evening of surreal life-size puppetry and masked mysteries.
Off Nite | Monday, Apr. 17 | 8-9:30 p.m. | Tabard Theatre, 29 N. San Pedro St., Ste. 200, San Jose | Free | Every Monday, Mighty Mike McGee and Ato Walker host a variety talk show and draw on participation from audience members.
“Tosca” | Monday, Apr. 17-Wednesday, Apr. 19 | Times vary | California Theatre, 345 S. First St., San Jose | $55-$195 | Follow the tragic story of an opera singer and her artist lover, whose passionate involvement with a political prisoner has made them targets of the chief of the secret police.

Tuesday, April 18

Pow Wow Song & Dance Classes | Tuesday, Apr. 18 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Roosevelt Community Center, 901 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose | Free | The Indian Health Center hosts lessons to inspire cultural pride and connection.
Truesdays Storytelling Open Mic | Tuesday, Apr. 18 | 6:30 p.m. | True Brew Taphouse & Kitchen, 787 The Alameda, Ste. 10, San Jose | Free | Performers, comics, poets, and storytellers of all types are welcome to take the stand.
Star Trek: TNG Trivia | Tuesday, Apr. 18 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Britannia Arms Almaden, 5027 Almaden Expy., San Jose | $8-$24 | Get ready to beam down for a night of 50 all-new questions about the show.

Wednesday, April 19

Cafecito Series | Wednesday, Apr. 19 | 5:30 p.m. | Mexican Heritage Theater, 1700 Alum Rock Ave., San Jose | Free | Hear about updates on development projects to establish a cultural district in Little Portugal and the Mayfair neighborhood.
2023 Spring Wine Walk | Wednesday, Apr. 19 | 6 p.m. | Downtown Campbell, East Campbell Avenue and North First Street, Campbell | $50-$55 | Discover the latest crop of wines from California’s fabled wine growing regions while exploring the shops along Downtown Campbell.
“Grand Horizons” | Wednesday, Apr. 19 | 7:30 p.m. | The Stage, 490 S. First St., San Jose | $38-$62 | This 1920s whodunit has everything you never wanted in a show—an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything.
Mal Hall | Wednesday, Apr. 19 | 8 p.m. | San Jose Improv, 62 S. Second St., San Jose | $20 | The nationally touring comedian, host, and online personality has grown into a regular feature act for Alonzo Bodden and Anjelah Johnson.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Wellness

🌱 Spring into health this year

Athletic Greens replaces multiple supplements with one packet. | Photo by Athletic Greens

Spring cleaning? Here’s a storage solution: Replace nine supplement bottles with one product.

AG1 by Athletic Greens contains 75 vitamins, minerals and whole-food sourced nutrients, replacing nine other products like your probiotic, multivitamin, daily supplement and more. Hint: It’s the best thing you could do to improve your gut health.

Bonus: Receive a free one year supply of vitamin D and five free travel packs with your first purchase.*

Snag some AG1 this spring

News Notes

Development

Mayor Matt Mahan and other city officials recently celebrated breaking ground on the emergency interim housing project located on Branham Lane + Monterey Road. The 204-bed, three-story apartment building is expected to support up to 612 people annually, and should be ready by April 2024. (San José Spotlight)

Outdoors

Parts of Alum Rock Park have reopened following the damage from recent storms. Visitors can now access multiple trails with the exception of Lariat, Stables, Eagle Rock, North Rim, Mineral Springs Loop, Penitencia Creek, and South Rim trails. Find a detailed map of the first phase of Alum Rock’s reopening.

Transit

Santa Clara VTA will soon consider approving the construction of a 10-mile bike roadway, dubbed the “Central Bikeway.” It would run from Penitencia Creek County Park and end near the Lawrence Caltrain station. The VTA board will review it next month on Thursday, May 4. (San José Spotlight)

Biz

A San Jose-based real estate firm is finalizing its purchase of Richmond Ranch — located on 3,654 acres in south San Jose — from China-based firm Z&L Properties, which paid $25 million for the ranch in 2017. There have been no plans announced for the land as of yet. (The Mercury News)

Plan Ahead

Poor House Bistro will host a “4/20 Smoking the Blues Fundraiser” at Narrative Fermentations (100 E. Alma Ave.) this Thursday, April 20 at 5 p.m. The benefit will help fund the construction of the eatery’s new patio in Little Italy — the restaurant is due to open late spring or early summer of this year. (The Mercury News)

Edu

Three San José Unified elementary schools — Graystone, Los Alamitos, and Williams — were recently recognized for being among 350 schools chosen for the 2023 California Distinguished Schools program. It celebrates institutions for exceptional student performance and closing achievement gaps.

Finance

Now may be a good time to transfer your balance. This leading balance transfer card offers 0% intro APR for 21 months and no annual fee. Eliminating interest payments? A no-brainer.*

Drink

Ditch the hangover without having to ditch your favorite cocktail with Ritual Zero Proof Spirits. The award-winning brand makes non-alcoholic rum, tequila, gin, and whiskey so you can enjoy the ritual of having a drink without feeling icky the following day. Psst — check out Ritual’s collection of cocktail recipes.

Cause

Happy National Volunteer Week 💪

30+ volunteer opportunities in San Jose

Several volunteers pose for a picture in front of a house.

Collaborate with other community members for a good cause. | Photo via Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley

Every third week of April since 1974, the US has celebrated the valuable figures who dedicate time to bettering their communities — volunteers.

Not only is this the time to applaud these generous individuals, but also to inspire more people to become active participants within their local organizations.

In San Jose, there are more than enough great causes to support with your time. Here are a few ways to get involved and give back to your community in the great 408.

🛠️ Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley | Participate in minor home repairs, team builds, or by preparing earthquake and fire preparedness kits.

🚲 Good Karma Bikes | Join this team in repairing bikes for the community.

🤝 Next Door Solutions | Learn about domestic violence prevention and intervention, and assist with outreach, education, or virtual office tasks.

🐾 Silicon Valley Pet Project | Become a foster parent coordinator or recruiter, and meet + greet with potential adopters.

25+ more volunteer opportunities

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Alyson

From the editor

In case you missed it, the Warriors fell to the Sacramento Kings on Saturday afternoon by three points. I already know my coworker from SACtoday was loving the game — but it’s fine Jordan, we’re coming back tonight.

Missed the last newsletter? We revisited San Jose’s long-lost amusement park.

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