tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923860625279115418.post1371131405920395695..comments2024-03-28T00:49:16.065-07:00Comments on The San Jose Blog: Wednesday Wishlist: Learn From San DiegoJoshua Santoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08146556924287585958noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923860625279115418.post-10605361612373366232012-04-12T06:55:15.370-07:002012-04-12T06:55:15.370-07:00Totally agree. San Diego has a nice location and g...Totally agree. San Diego has a nice location and great weather, but it's beat. No real urban feel at all. Not as pathetic as downtown SJ, but not too inspiring. <br /><br />PS- What's with all the vinyl banners on downtown businesses? Looks like crap. Can't afford a real sign? Then don't open a new business. Even Chachos has one hanging all nasty. Again, no city leadership or five minutes of attention to aesthetics or zoning. Oh, a pawn shop? Sure we'd love to have you downtown. Ridic...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923860625279115418.post-12932752583924023942012-04-12T00:11:50.615-07:002012-04-12T00:11:50.615-07:00If San Jose had to look at Downtown San Diego'...If San Jose had to look at Downtown San Diego's example of a vibrant downtown, San Jose has reached an all time low! San Diego is not a good role model since its downtown is dead during the day, even during work week. The Gaslamp, and, in some cases, along the waterfront are active with people. The rest of downtown is quiet and kind of rundown with all those dark condos/apts. I think Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Seattle, Philadelphia, and to lesser extent, Denver should be role models of vibrant downtown to emulate. Downtown Salt Lake City, with the help of Mormon Church, created the most successful and vibrant downtown overnight with massive shopping mall built downtown and a complete downtown overhaul in the last 4 years. This one(Salt Lake City) is the hardest and most expensive to do because it requires retail trade arm twisting and completely relocating the region's most popular shopping to downtown and build a mall and completely transform downtown by tearing half of it and rebuilding it with offices, condos, hotels, museums and theater. All of it was done by the Mormon Church with its own money.Paul Lemaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923860625279115418.post-27180245836848679472012-04-11T17:53:30.323-07:002012-04-11T17:53:30.323-07:00Lots of good comments here. I agree that BSB's...Lots of good comments here. I agree that BSB's building don't do anything for the aesthetics of SJ. It is disgusting the city charges so much for permits. The city is only hampering the private investing we so desperately need.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923860625279115418.post-19125514062035578602012-04-11T17:38:30.211-07:002012-04-11T17:38:30.211-07:00@all,
No offense to Mayor Reed, but I think we nee...@all,<br />No offense to Mayor Reed, but I think we need to be patient and wait for Sam Liccardo to become mayor. When Sam's mayor downtown should get the Tom McEnery all over treatment again ;).Tony D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03392232221747908883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923860625279115418.post-72336140102691951292012-04-11T16:04:01.896-07:002012-04-11T16:04:01.896-07:00seriously. would it be such a crazy idea for him t...seriously. would it be such a crazy idea for him to live in the 88 or frequent downtown restaurants on the weekend? he's invisible and the rest of them are just so damn passive about everything.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923860625279115418.post-8304203052569160662012-04-11T15:26:59.102-07:002012-04-11T15:26:59.102-07:00Mayor Reed is the worst mayor ever! Nothing is bu...Mayor Reed is the worst mayor ever! Nothing is built downtown except for River Park 2 in his first year.David Sorronoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923860625279115418.post-66316595737317320832012-04-11T12:02:15.653-07:002012-04-11T12:02:15.653-07:00Great post! "density, more architectural var...Great post! "density, more architectural variety" +1!<br /><br />Honestly, I cannot believe there isn't a crane on the skyline right now. Most major cities in the US are really taking advantage of the strong rental market, while downtown SJ lays dorment. Don't we have one of the strongest markets in US? Maybe that's why? We aren't building? I realize there are units being constructed in North SJ, but we need to focus on the core and look to cities like SD (as stated), DC, and Portland. None of these cities have 'tall' buildings but they do a great job of creating a sense of place and focus for their region - attractive, walkable, and lively downtowns.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923860625279115418.post-78495541450109775782012-04-11T11:54:04.981-07:002012-04-11T11:54:04.981-07:00Nice post Josh and hats off to Mark for the thinki...Nice post Josh and hats off to Mark for the thinking.<br /><br />One area that I will give San Diego major props over San Jose is that they have studied relocating their downtown airport; to MCAS Miramar or a joint airport with Tijuana BC. long-term city planning, San Jose needs to do the same; either Moffett Field, joint operation at SFO or remote location in South County. Flew to Vegas over the weekend and didn't realize only 22 gates at SJC are in use. You mean SJC's current capacity can't be incorporated at SFO, complete with a modernized Caltrain link from SJ/SV? But I digress: speaking of Vegas...<br /><br />San Jose can also learn from Las Vegas: fake can be cool (Retro Mediterranean architecture of The Strip) and multiple shopping districts. I hate hearing people say that because of Valley Fair and Santana Row, downtown San Jose will never have high-end retail or true department stores. I say BS! it would definitely take vision, but why not think big San Jose and put a Dillard's, Barney's of NY or flagship Fry's Electronics in downtown SJ. Going back to San Diego, they have many of suburban malls and retail corridors but still have successful retail in their downtown; See Horton Plaza.<br /><br />Perhaps, as Mark alluded to, our San Pedro Square Market, future ballpark and Diridon Transit Center will be the catalysts that downtown San Jose has been waiting for...Tony D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03392232221747908883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923860625279115418.post-59567896134849152922012-04-11T11:52:59.440-07:002012-04-11T11:52:59.440-07:00I'm relatively new to San Jose and live downto...I'm relatively new to San Jose and live downtown. I think this city has the lamest city council - and mayor - ever. Where are they, except on the news arguing about pensions or pot dispensaries? What is their vision for the city? The mayor doesn't even live downtown. There's a huge vote of confidence. Where are the neighbors who actively weigh in on what new buildings look like, etc. The general level of apathy is shocking. And yeah, those BSB buildings wouldn't pass in a real, functioning city.Jordannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923860625279115418.post-56378006430013108222012-04-11T11:33:14.362-07:002012-04-11T11:33:14.362-07:00BSB builds, in my opinion, the ugliest, cheapest l...BSB builds, in my opinion, the ugliest, cheapest looking and uninviting buildings.Prison/Stalinist aesthetic anyone? While this means a nice profit for the developer, for downton SJ it means "Big, Ugly Skyline".<br /><br />As a downtown dweller, I cringe at the thought of BSB determining the future of SJ aesthetics. I wish city council would intervene.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com