Trick or Treat Along Lincoln Avenue Returns to Willow Glen on October 30

Families looking for a daytime Halloween outing can head to Downtown Willow Glen on Friday, October 30, when local businesses along Lincoln Avenue open their doors for Trick or Treat Along Lincoln Avenue. The event runs in two sessions along the stretch from Minnesota Avenue to Willow Street. Toddlers take the route from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., while school-aged children follow from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Organizers ask participants to move clockwise for smoother traffic and safer sidewalks.

Participating shops plan to hand out candy and other goodies during both windows. The setup keeps the activity on the main commercial stretch rather than residential blocks, which suits families who prefer a contained, supervised walk. The Willow Glen Business Association coordinates the gathering and has put out a call for volunteer crossing guards and sidewalk monitors to keep the sessions orderly.

Books for Treats, a nonprofit that has paired free books with Halloween since 2001, will set up again at the Garden Theater at 1165 Lincoln Avenue. Volunteers will help each child pick one free book. The morning slot covers kindergarten-aged children and younger, while the afternoon slot covers first through sixth grade. Rebecca Morgan, the organization’s founder, has noted that Halloween already carries excitement and imagination, making it a natural moment to add a lasting item to the treat bag.

The event stays open to the public with no tickets required. After collecting candy and a book, families can continue exploring the independent shops, cafes, and boutiques that line Lincoln Avenue.

7 Brew Eyes First San Jose Spot at East Side Shopping Center

Residents who frequent the Sprouts-anchored center at 375 Capitol Square could soon have a new drive-thru option for custom drinks. Arkansas-based 7 Brew has submitted plans to convert a parking area there into a 1,500-square-foot coffee shop with three lanes and room to queue 18 cars. Pennsylvania-based Core States Group prepared the documents, which seek a conditional-use permit for drive-thru service plus walk-up access. The shopping center already hosts Burlington, Five Below, and Crunch Fitness near the I-680 and McKee Road interchange.

Initial hours would run from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., with later expansion toward 24-hour operations. Projections call for an average of 400 customers daily and staffing of 10 to 15 people per shift. Planning files list no construction cost, though the chain previously published franchise investment ranges of $275,000 to $525,000 before it stopped accepting new franchise agreements.

Founded in 2017, 7 Brew has grown to more than 700 locations across nearly 40 states. Its menu supports more than 20,000 drink combinations spanning coffee, energy drinks, sodas, smoothies, and teas. California still lacks any operating stands, yet the company has filed proposals in Livermore, Concord, Sacramento, and parts of Los Angeles County. The closest existing location sits in St. George, Utah.

The proposal arrives as other out-of-market brands continue to target San Jose. Raising Cane’s opened its first city location in April 2025 at 2398 Evergreen Place and followed with a second site at 450 N. Capitol Ave. Dutch Bros has proposed shops at 2624 S. Bascom Ave. and 2170 Monterey Road. Levain Bakery is preparing its first Northern California outpost at Santana Row.

A three-lane drive-thru focused on high-volume beverage service would add another quick option for East San Jose shoppers and nearby commuters. Approval and construction timelines remain open, yet the filing signals continued interest from national chains in filling gaps across the city’s retail landscape.

Source: SVBJ

Affordable Housing Tower Proposed for South Fourth Street Near SJSU

A half-acre parcel at 439-451 South Fourth Street has drawn fresh interest from American Housing Co., a subsidiary of the Oakland-based firm oWow. The new ownership seeks to advance a roughly 25-story, 261-foot residential tower on the site between East San Salvador Street and East William Street. Previous plans approved in 2024 under Nelly Amas called for 210 units aimed largely at San Jose State University students and faculty. Those designs, prepared by Salvatore Caruso Design Corp., never advanced to construction.

The updated concept expands the unit count substantially. Developers estimate 368 apartments set aside as affordable below-market-rate homes, plus four manager residences, for a total of 372 units. Exact floor plans and architectural details remain under wraps, though oWow could revise the earlier Caruso renderings with its in-house design team. Project costs have been pegged near $159.6 million, including about $94.8 million for construction and $6.4 million for land and acquisition, according to a California Debt Limit Allocation Committee staff report from early September.

Location advantages helped keep the parcel in play despite earlier stalls. The site sits a short walk from the SJSU campus, within easy reach of Downtown San Jose’s business core and nearby transit options. High-density housing here could serve students, faculty, and other residents seeking proximity to campus life without long commutes. Existing low-rise buildings on the property, including the Metro Station apartments, would need to come down to make way for the tower.

San Jose has seen multiple proposals cycle through this address over recent years, with city approvals secured yet construction still pending. The pattern reflects broader challenges facing affordable projects across Santa Clara County, where funding gaps have delayed hundreds of units. Advocates for additional housing will watch whether American Housing Co. can secure financing and move this denser version forward where earlier efforts paused.

Adding hundreds of income-restricted apartments on a compact urban lot would expand options close to one of the city’s major educational anchors. Progress on South Fourth Street could contribute to the steady growth of residential capacity that supports Downtown San Jose’s ongoing evolution.

Source: SFYIMBY

Historic South First Street Property Set for Multi-Phase Food and Drink Revival

Residents who remember the old Benjamin’s Saloon or later Camino Brewing Co. can watch the site at 702 and 718 S. First Street take on a new life. Jim Salata, president of San Jose-based Garden City Construction and Buccaneer Demolition, is converting the shuttered taproom and the neighboring historic building into a multi-phase food, drink, and events destination. He has already secured a Type 75 on-sale general brewpub license for the future Car Bar Brewery Restaurant space.

Salata envisions a brewpub-style operation centered on automotive memorabilia and artifacts tied to San Jose’s agricultural past. The space already holds a 10-barrel brewhouse. His company is handling kitchen refurbishments and upgrades to the front bar. “We're trying to get it to a point where we can bring in an operator and have a viable business,” Salata said. He hopes phase one, the brewery, will be close to done by the end of January. Camino Brewing closed in April 2024 after citing inflation and a slow recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The next phase completes Benjamin’s Gardens, a shared outdoor space behind a newly completed front wall. Regular operations there will need the kitchen finished. A later phase restores the two-story building at 702 S. First Street into Benjamin’s Saloon, with potential for a full kitchen in the garage. The second floor will feature a vintage brothel-style design with red velvet wallpaper and brass fixtures. The building dates to 1884 and originally housed Benjamin’s Saloon until Prohibition. Other businesses followed before Faber’s Cyclery opened in 1923. Salata and his wife, Suzanne, bought the structure in 2013 after a fire damaged the then-129-year-old property. “That's when we rebuilt it with reclaimed materials,” Salata said. “It's quite a story of the materials that we found and how it all transpired. It's a story in itself.”

Memorabilia collected from local families, farms, and businesses will appear throughout the property, including a loaned collection of Schwinn Sting-Ray bicycles for display inside the future saloon. A roughly 12,000-square-foot parking lot near Second and Margaret streets holds space for about 30 vehicles. Salata said the project could split into three components: the Car Bar Brewery Restaurant, Benjamin’s Saloon, and a shared garden/event space, with separate operators or investors potentially involved in different portions.

The site sits in the SoFA district along South First Street. Once operators come on board, the phased approach could return a longtime neighborhood address to active use for dining, drinks, and gatherings.

Source: SVBJ

Trick-or-Treat the Row Returns to Santana Row on October 27

Families with little ones can mark Tuesday, October 27, for the annual Halloween Family Festival at Santana Row. The free event runs from 10 a.m. to noon across Santana Row Park and Park Valencia, giving kids a chance to collect treats along the shopping district before the big night arrives later in the week.

Santana Row invites guests to bring costumes and trick-or-treat bags for the morning. Activities include live music, pumpkin decorating stations, stilt-walkers, balloons, and stops for treats at participating shops and restaurants along The Row. Specific treat locations can be found below.

The festival stays open to the public with no admission fee. Past years have drawn crowds of costumed children and parents who use the weekday morning timing for preschoolers and elementary kids who are out of school. The setting among the stores, restaurants, and open plazas at Santana Row adds a walkable backdrop that keeps the focus on the activities rather than long lines or ticket gates.

TETRA Hotel Rolls Out Holiday Programming Starting November 19

Families and friends looking for seasonal gatherings near San Jose can head to TETRA Hotel in Sunnyvale beginning November 19. The Autograph Collection property at 400 West Java Drive will fill with trees, twinkling lights, and festive decor while offering specialty drinks, sweets, snow globe dining, and a holiday version of its Oasis Makers Fair.

Snow Globe Dining returns from November 19 through December 25. Groups of up to four can reserve a lifesize snow globe set among the holiday lights and trees for a special a la carte menu of seasonal bites and beverages. The experience runs Thursday through Saturday starting at 5 p.m. On November 26, Adrestia hosts a Thanksgiving Feast with traditional dishes and seasonal sides from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; reservations run through OpenTable.

The Oasis Makers Fair arrives Wednesday, December 9. More than 20 Bay Area small businesses and artisans will set up for shopping, with live music and carolers. Offerings include treats from Mexipino Creations, Franci Cakes, and Crumble 'n Pop, books from Wonder Pages, fragrance and decor from Dolly's Collective and Baltic Pacific, jewelry from BeautySutra by Shikha and Made by Sana, plus accessories and crafts from The Knotty Corgi, Jess Craft Co., and MJ's Creations. The event is free, with RSVPs encouraged.

Santa Brunch takes place Sunday, December 13 at Adrestia, with Santa available for photos from 10 a.m. to noon alongside an à la carte brunch menu. Christmas Day brings brunch featuring items such as Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and Surf & Turf Eggs Benedict, plus a festive dinner of seasonal and signature dishes. Nokori will serve holiday cocktails throughout December, including Tinsel with Suntory Toki Whisky, cranberry juice, and rosemary, and Tidings with apple cider, orange juice, cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and Fireball Whiskey, plus non-alcoholic options. A Silver Oak Wine Experience continues at Adrestia through December 31 with selections from Alexander Valley and Napa Valley alongside the restaurant’s menu.

For reservations and further details on the full slate of events, visit the TETRA Hotel website or call 408.734.2300.

Levain Bakery to Open First Northern California Spot at Santana Row

Cookie fans in San Jose will gain a new option when Levain Bakery opens its first Northern California location at Santana Row in summer 2027. The New York City-based chain, known for its signature 6-ounce cookies along with breads, pastries, and other baked goods, operates 20 locations overall, including four in Southern California at Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Beverly Hills, and Venice.

The bakery will take part of the former Chico’s storefront on Olin Avenue. Chico’s closed that store in September; it had been the retailer’s only San Jose location, though stores remain open in Los Gatos and Los Altos. Levain plans to partner with a local charity and donate its opening-day proceeds, following a company tradition. More details on the store should surface closer to the opening date.

Santana Row already hosts about 30 food and beverage tenants. The addition comes as the Federal Realty development has brought in other national retailers, including a recent Reformation opening and an expected Hoka store this fall. The mixed-use project includes more than 50 stores plus offices, housing, a hotel, and restaurants. Earlier this year, several dining tenants closed after operator Vine Hospitality shut down, including LB Steak, Left Bank, and Meso Modern Mediterranean.

The arrival adds a destination bakery to the lineup of shops and eateries along Santana Row. Residents who have ordered Levain cookies online or visited the Southern California locations can look forward to a local counter once doors open next summer.

Source: SVBJ

San Jose Tops Nation in Household Bills, Report Finds

Households across San Jose face the highest median costs for essential bills among the 50 largest U.S. cities, according to a new doxoINSIGHTS report. Residents pay a median of $44,947 a year across 13 common bills that cover rent or mortgage, utilities, insurance, and car loans. That figure stands 78 percent above the national median of $25,266 and equals about 31 percent of local income.

New York City ranked second at $40,794, followed by San Francisco at $39,696, San Diego at $39,345, and Boston at $38,630. Even after removing housing costs, San Jose still led the list with a median of $16,329, or 47 percent above the national figure for non-housing bills. Auto insurance runs 208 percent above the national median, water and sewer costs sit 121 percent higher, and waste and recycling bills run 115 percent higher.

Lifelong resident Amber Long, a 45-year-old mother of three, estimated her household spends about $4,200 a month with housing included and under $3,000 without rent. “(Politicians are) missing the whole community that does not make six figures,” Long said. “I can’t imagine anybody having kids right now and what they’re going through, trying to afford childcare and everything.” Alison Cingolani, director of policy at SV@Home, noted that housing costs push up other necessities because workers commute farther or businesses face higher labor costs. “Housing costs kind of feed into even the things that it’s not obvious that housing costs feed into,” she said.

Russell Hancock, president and CEO of Joint Venture Silicon Valley, pointed to the region’s housing shortage and resistance to new development as ongoing pressures. “While housing costs can put pressure on expenses beyond rent or a mortgage, even households earning six figures can struggle to afford childcare, transportation and other necessities,” Hancock said. “(Current residents are) glad that they’re here, but they don’t want anybody else to be here.” Michael O’Connell, who has lived in San Jose since the 1960s and carries a $1,100 monthly mortgage, added, “I don’t see how people do it nowadays. Because rent’s so outrageous.”

A 2026 Silicon Valley Poll found that 48 percent of Bay Area residents cannot cover monthly expenses while also saving or investing, 59 percent have cut back on groceries or other necessities in the past five years, and 47 percent have taken on debt or used credit cards. The doxo data, drawn from actual bill payments across the largest cities, underscores how housing and related costs shape daily budgets in San Jose even as the city continues to attract high-wage tech and innovation jobs.

Source: San Jose Spotlight

Taimseed Clinic to Open in Long-Vacant Downtown San Jose Storefront

Residents and workers near San Pedro Square will gain a new option for routine medical care when Taimseed opens its first South Bay location on December 20. The clinic is taking the 2,117-square-foot ground-floor space at 28 N. Almaden Avenue inside the Modera San Pedro Square apartments. The site had remained empty for years after Carbon Health closed its urgent care clinic there, well before the company shuttered other San Jose locations in February.

Taimseed plans to offer primary and preventive care along with sleep, menopause, and fertility services. The layout already includes a lobby, patient rooms, a conference room, a break room, and a lab, according to Bobby Facchino, the broker who represented the landlord. Facchino noted that the location sits one street over from the busier San Pedro Square corridor of restaurants and bars, which limited foot traffic and made leasing more difficult. Financial incentives ultimately helped draw the clinic operator to the space.

“It's a good balance,” Facchino said. “There's already a lot of places to eat and do stuff, so I think to have this as well adds to it.” An adjacent storefront in the same building has stayed vacant since construction finished. The new clinic sits a short walk from San Pedro Square Market and the broader dining scene that has grown along that stretch of Downtown San Jose.

The arrival adds a health service to a mixed-use building that already houses apartments above street-level retail. Opening just before the holidays gives nearby residents a local option for check-ups and specialized visits without traveling farther into the city or suburbs. Details on exact services and hours should appear on the operator’s site as the December date approaches.

Source: SVBJ

Gateway Tower Financing Closes, Construction Ready to Begin in SoFA

Residents following housing plans in Downtown San Jose can expect early site work to begin within days on the Gateway Tower. The 15-story project sits on a site bordered by Market Street, William Street, and First Street in the SoFA district. Once finished, it will contain 220 apartments, 218 of them restricted as affordable and two reserved as market-rate units for on-site managers.

San Jose-based The Core Cos. partnered with nonprofit Affordable Housing CDC on the joint venture. “After nearly two decades of vision and persistence, Gateway Tower is poised to help shape the future of downtown San Jose,” said Chris Neale, president of Core Cos. Real estate documents filed on October 14 confirmed that JPMorgan Chase, the city of San Jose, Santa Clara County, and the state of California have all closed on development loans. The state Housing Finance Authority estimates total development cost at $197.8 million, or just over $899,100 per unit.

“Closing financing on the project is a major and long-awaited milestone that reflects the strength of our partnerships,” Neale said. Units will be limited to households earning between 30 percent and 70 percent of Santa Clara County median income. Mid-2026 figures set that median at $143,850 for one person and $205,500 for a four-person household, producing income caps that run from roughly $43,155 to $100,695 for singles and $61,650 to $143,850 for a family of four. The mix includes studios plus one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments.

Ground-floor commercial space totals about 3,300 square feet, with San Jose Jazz Co. expected among the tenants. The most recent residential high-rise to open in Downtown San Jose was The Fay, which welcomed tenants in 2024. Gateway Tower could reach completion in 2029. Neale described the project as delivering “high-quality, affordable homes for San Jose’s downtown workforce, especially artists, musicians, and those who make the SoFA District thrive.”

Source: SiliconValley.com

Sutter Health Advances Plans for Major Santa Clara Hospital

Residents across the South Bay who have tracked healthcare expansion in Silicon Valley now have a clearer timeline for Sutter Health’s new medical center in Santa Clara. The organization finished the design phase and anticipates breaking ground in the fourth quarter of 2027, with completion targeted for the fourth quarter of 2031. The hospital will anchor the West Campus at 2831 and 2841 Mission College Boulevard, part of a larger expansion that also includes an East Campus roughly a mile away.

Kevin Cook, president of the Sutter Health Greater Silicon Valley Division, described the completed design work as a collaborative process with medical teams and staff. “We’ve just finished the design phase, where we spent a lot of time working with our medical teams [and] medical staff designing what we feel is the hospital of the future that really matches the need in the community and is specifically designed for the community it serves,” Cook said. The facility is planned to include 302 patient beds, 12 operating rooms, and seven procedure rooms.

Mathew Hernandez, M.D., chief medical officer, noted the emphasis on advanced surgical and procedural capacity, with interventional cardiology as a major focus. The hospital will also house a family birthing center with labor and delivery rooms and an emergency department with 54 beds. Cook described the project as state of the art and forward-leaning in both technology and patient experience. Sutter is currently preparing detailed construction documents ahead of the groundbreaking.

On the East Campus at 2431, 2441, and 2451 Mission College Boulevard, a primary care facility has already opened. A specialty care center is expected to open later this year, and the campus will include an ambulatory surgery center. Together, the two campuses represent a substantial addition of outpatient and inpatient capacity near the Levi’s Stadium area. Public announcements have described the overall investment as the largest in Sutter Health’s history.

For more information on Sutter Health facilities, visit sutterhealth.org.

Source: SVBJ

Fox Tale Fermentation Project Hosts Third Annual Downtown Pumpkin Patch

Neighbors and visitors looking for a low-key fall outing in Downtown San Jose can stop by Fox Tale Fermentation Project today for the third annual Downtown Pumpkin Patch. The small brewery and restaurant at 30 East Santa Clara Street, Suite 120, will set up pumpkins from The Pumpkin Patch SLO outside the shop for purchase and tasting. The lineup includes pumpkin specials, pumpkin drinks, pumpkin ferments, and coloring pages for kids.

Fox Tale opened in 2022 in the heart of Downtown San Jose and focuses on small-batch beers, house-made kombucha, fermented mocktails, and plant-based dishes built around local and fermented ingredients. Owners Wendy Neff and Felipe Bravo run the place as a neighborhood gathering spot that has hosted open mics, poetry nights, and other community events. The space sits near Fountain Alley, where several independent businesses have opened in recent years.

The pumpkin event continues a pattern of seasonal activations the owners have used to draw people onto Santa Clara Street. Past versions of the patch paired the gourds with fall menu items and special releases. This year’s version keeps the same outdoor setup on the sidewalk between First and Second Streets while adding the coloring pages for younger visitors.

The restaurant normally opens at noon Wednesday through Sunday and closes Mondays and Tuesdays. The pumpkin patch itself is scheduled for today, with the usual food and drink service running alongside the outdoor display. Anyone interested in the current menu or hours can check the shop’s site or Instagram for the latest details.

For more information, visit foxtalefermentationproject.com or follow @foxtalefermentationproject.

New Law Streamlines Approvals for Diridon Station Modernization

Residents and business leaders following Silicon Valley’s transit plans gained a practical tool last month when Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1375. Authored by State Senator Dave Cortese, the measure creates a targeted California Environmental Quality Act exemption for qualifying urban intermodal rail station projects. The law aims to shorten permitting timelines for stations where multiple high-capacity rail services converge, while requiring clean operations, environmental compliance, community engagement, and plans that address potential displacement of residents and small businesses.

Diridon Station stands as the clearest beneficiary. Regional officials have long described the western edge of Downtown San Jose as the future meeting point for California High-Speed Rail, Caltrain, BART, VTA light rail and buses, Amtrak, Altamont Corridor Express, and Capitol Corridor service. Partner agencies selected an at-grade design earlier this year after extensive analysis and public input; that option keeps tracks near their current elevation and adds a below-street concourse. Environmental review for the broader program had been expected to take three to four years. Officials have indicated the exemption could reduce that phase by roughly a year.

The station area is projected to support housing, office, retail, and hospitality development around one of Northern California’s busiest transit hubs. Mayor Matt Mahan has noted that the measure advances a major Bay Area transportation investment while retaining environmental safeguards. Once rebuilt, Diridon is expected to rank among the largest rail and transit facilities west of the Mississippi River. High-Speed Rail passenger service to San Jose still lacks a firm schedule, so many of the largest ridership and economic effects remain years away even if station work advances more quickly.

“This is a major win for Silicon Valley and a major step toward finally delivering the world-class Diridon Station to our region,” Cortese said. Eligibility under the law is limited to projects that meet the listed standards and file a notice of exemption before the end of 2031. The change does not remove federal environmental review requirements that still apply because of anticipated federal funding.

For updates on the Diridon Station program, visit diridonsj.org.

Source: SVBJ

Come From Away Arrives in San Jose

A small Newfoundland town once opened its doors to thousands of stranded travelers, and that story of unexpected hospitality now reaches the stage in San Jose through a production mounted by neighbors who know something about building community. Playful People Productions stages the Tony-winning musical Come From Away from November 7 through 15 at the Historic Hoover Theatre, with two separate casts of local adult performers rotating through the run.

The show draws from real events on September 11, 2001, when 38 planes diverted to Gander’s airstrip and a community of roughly 9,000 residents suddenly hosted nearly 7,000 people from around the world. Music, shared meals, and an open bar helped bridge language and cultural differences during those days, turning an international crisis into a temporary global gathering. The musical earned the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical along with four Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical, and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical. Local direction comes from Katie D'Arcey with vocal work by Stacy Levin, and some cast members step onto a stage for the first time under the company’s guidance.

Playful People Productions began in 2010 and has operated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit since 2017, building a space that welcomes performers of varied ages and experience levels while encouraging families to share the stage. The organization follows Positive Discipline practices and regularly pairs children with parents, aunts, uncles, or grandparents in its productions. This Come From Away run continues that approach with adult participants drawn from the local area, supported in part by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San José and by SVCreates in partnership with the County of Santa Clara. Randy Adams, longtime managing director at TheatreWorks on the Peninsula and an original producer of the show through Junkyard Dog Productions, connects the production to its earlier development.

Performances unfold at the Historic Hoover Theatre, 1635 Park Avenue, a renovated former school gym in the Rose Garden neighborhood that serves as a city landmark and seats between roughly 100 and 200 depending on configuration. Free parking sits nearby. Yellow Cast shows run Saturday November 7 at 1:00 PM, Sunday November 8 at 1:00 PM, Wednesday November 11 at 7:00 PM, Friday November 13 at 7:00 PM, and Saturday November 14 at 7:00 PM. Blue Cast shows take Saturday November 7 at 7:00 PM, Sunday November 8 at 7:00 PM, Thursday November 12 at 7:00 PM, Saturday November 14 at 1:00 PM, and Sunday November 15 at 1:00 PM. Tickets cost $25 for youth age 12 and under, $28 for students age 13 to 17, and $32 for adults, with possible fees.

For tickets or additional details, visit www.PlayfulPeople.org/tickets or call (408) 878-5362.

San Jose Housing Prices Ease While Inventory Climbs

Homebuyers watching San Jose real estate saw single-family prices drop 2.4 percent from a year earlier in August, settling at $1.8 million according to Homes.com data. National prices rose 1.3 percent over the same stretch, Los Angeles edged up 1.5 percent, and San Francisco jumped 8.6 percent. Sales volume in San Jose also fell 8.3 percent, nearly double the national decline, while San Francisco recorded a 9.8 percent increase in transactions.

Nigel Hughes of CoStar and Homes.com attributed the divergence largely to supply and demand differences. San Jose carried more higher-end homes on the market with fewer buyers competing for them. San Francisco, by contrast, held limited inventory in the neighborhoods attracting highly paid AI workers. “I just don’t think the intensity is anywhere near as strong down in San Jose,” Hughes said. Russell Hancock of Joint Venture Silicon Valley linked the softer hiring environment, partly tied to AI shifts, to reduced urgency in the local housing market even as technology continues generating substantial wealth at the top end.

Average earnings per technology job in the Bay Area reached roughly $450,000, according to comments from Beacon Economics’ Christopher Thornberg at San Jose State University’s Economic Summit earlier this year. Northern California AI companies raised $317 billion in venture funding this year, more than 11 times the amount in 2022. That capital has concentrated among top earners, enabling some San Francisco buyers to make all-cash offers that outpace mortgage-dependent purchasers. San Jose has not yet shown the same intensity. Hughes described the city as offering weaker demand and greater choice among higher-end properties.

Inventory in San Jose rose 9.3 percent from a year earlier while new listings increased 21.5 percent. After years of tight competition, the additional options have given buyers more room to negotiate and more leverage overall. The pattern sits against continued strength in Silicon Valley’s broader tech economy, with wealth creation flowing unevenly across the region’s housing markets.

Source: SVBJ

 

New Firearm Rules Land in California

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed 10 gun bills on Saturday, September 26. Starting January 1, 2029, Senate Bill 948 will require anyone applying for a Firearm Safety Certificate will have to finish a course of at least four hours in the prior year. The course includes classroom work on storage, private sales, straw purchases, and use-of-force law, plus live-fire exercises on a range. Current owners keeping guns they already hold are not pulled into that class. People who move to California with firearms will need a safety certificate within 180 days of arrival, beginning in 2028. Holders of a valid concealed-carry permit, or anyone who finished a CCW course in the previous three years, are written out of the new class requirement.

Two other bills in the stack will matter at the courthouse and the evidence locker. Senate Bill 1220 adds a 10-year ban on possessing a gun after a conviction for stripping serial-number information that police use to trace weapons. Assembly Bill 1743 lets cities and universities request Department of Justice data on guns recovered in criminal investigations so researchers can map how those guns traveled. The California Rifle and Pistol Association opposed all three, calling the class an extra tax on ownership, the 10-year ban broader than public safety requires, and the data-sharing bill a privacy risk after a 2022 breach of carry-permit records. Gun-control groups, including Giffords, treated the package as closed loopholes and better training.

San Jose and Santa Clara County already run their own gun-violence caseloads: suicides, robberies, threats, and seizures that show up in local police and DA work. None of the signed bills is a city ordinance. They will still land at every dealer from Berryessa to Almaden once the Department of Justice writes the regulations and certified instructors line up range time. Expect legal challenges as unfortunately California’s last round of ammunition-background rules is still in court.

Source: San Jose Inside

Spark Social Opens Outdoor Food Truck Park Near Diridon Station

Residents and visitors seeking a new outdoor gathering spot near the SAP Center now have one that mixes rotating food trucks with games, music, and family areas. Spark Social launched its San Jose location on October 9 at 140 S Montgomery Blvd in the Creekside District, just a short walk from Diridon Station. The project represented a roughly $1 million investment and is expected to support 100 to 150 jobs across vendors, on-site staff, and administrative roles.

The site spans about 75,000 square feet and hosts 15 to 20 food trucks on a typical day, including around 10 permanent vendors, alongside a full bar. An 18-hole putting course, fire pits, live music, and a large LED screen for broadcasting Sharks and 49ers games round out the offerings. Hours run from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and extend until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Entry remains free, with parking available nearby via ParkMobile.

Founder Carlos Muela noted the drawn-out permitting process delayed an earlier spring target and then a potential July opening, yet community interest stayed high. “People are just ecstatic,” he said. “It took a lot longer than we expected. It built that anticipation from San Jose.” Programming includes themed nights such as a Filipino night market, country music events, Dia de los Muertos activities, Halloween programming, and a dog costume contest. Nearly half the space leans toward family use, with a Clubhouse that includes a playground, sensory garden, and play areas.

The venue sits on land tied to Google’s larger Downtown West project, which originally envisioned millions of square feet of office space, thousands of housing units, and extensive public amenities but has not yet begun construction. Jamestown has activated portions of the district with other businesses including Hapa’s Brewing, Local Color, Good Karma, Found SJ, and Bay Padel. Spark Social joins that effort while emphasizing local vendors.

For details on the current truck lineup, events, or private bookings, visit visitsparksocial.com.

Source: SVBJ

Symphony San Jose Brings Heroes, Villains and Costumes to the California Theatre This October

October arrives with a ready-made family outing when Symphony San Jose stages Symphonic Spooktacular at the historic California Theatre in Downtown San Jose. Conductor Peter Jaffe leads two performances on Saturday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 25 at 2:30 p.m., guiding the orchestra through a program that balances bold, triumphant themes with darker, mischievous scores.

The music ranges from Rossini’s William Tell Overture and Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries to Gounod’s Funeral March of a Marionette, Márquez’s Conga del Fuego Nuevo and Dukas’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, along with familiar themes from Batman and Spiderman. Vocalist Bianca Orsi joins the orchestra as the concert explores the classic clash of champions and foes in full symphonic color.

Those who want to lean into the season can enter the on-stage costume contest for a chance at spooktacular prizes. Anyone who prefers to skip the costume can still take part by watching the parade of dressed-up attendees. Special half-price youth tickets remain available for guests 17 and under when purchased alongside an adult seat, making the evening accessible for the whole household.

Convenient parking sits at the city-owned garage a block and a half away on San Carlos Street, with entrances on Second and Third. Single tickets range from $35 to $125 and go on sale soon through the Symphony San Jose box office.

This Halloween weekend concert adds another lively option to the growing list of family-friendly events that keep Downtown San Jose entertaining well into the fall.

Tickets and additional details are available at www.symphonysanjose.org or by calling 408.286.2600.

Prologis Files for a 99-Megawatt Box at Charcot and Zanker

Prologis asked San Jose for a special-use permit to knock down five industrial buildings at 326 Charcot Avenue and put a three-story, 514,000-square-foot data center in their place, plus 30,000 square feet of office. The file is SP26-026, dated September 10. Design power is 99 megawatts, with an on-site substation and a generator yard. If the city and the state Public Utilities Commission both sign off, construction could start in the first quarter of 2028, run about 22 months, and put the plant online around 2030. Nothing is entitled yet.

The grid piece sits at PG&E’s Trimble substation on Component Drive, between North First Street and Orchard Parkway. Prologis would pay for the switchgear expansion and two transmission lines into the site, including a second independent route so the yard does not lean as hard on diesel. The company said it intends to enroll in San Jose Clean Energy’s Total Clean Energy product, or an equivalent, aiming at 100 percent carbon-free supply. PG&E’s statewide data-center queue hit 12.71 gigawatts at the end of June, more than double the March figure. In February the city said the utility was lining up hookups for a dozen unnamed large San Jose projects by 2030.

North San Jose already holds Google, Cisco, and Apple campuses and a growing stack of compute buildings. City tax math on a finished data center has been quoted in the $3 million to $7 million a year range for utilities and property. Water and ratepayer bill fights have stopped similar projects in other Bay Area towns. San Jose has so far treated the use as industrial reuse on land that was never going to become townhouses. A public hearing is required. The PUC still has to bless the Trimble work.

City data-center list: https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/planning-building-code-enforcement/planning-division/data-center-and-other-large-energy-use-projects

Source: The Mercury News

Valley Health Center Opens on Bascom

Santa Clara County opened Valley Health Center San José-Campbell on Monday, September 28, at 1410 South Bascom Avenue, on the San Jose–Campbell line next to the VTA Bascom light-rail stop. The 10-story, 230,000-square-foot outpatient building holds more than 200 exam rooms. It is the largest clinic in the county system. Services include adult medicine, family medicine, pediatric primary and specialty care, adult and pediatric urgent care, OB-GYN and maternal-fetal medicine, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, lab, and imaging. Two older San Jose clinics fold into this one roof.

The county bought the converted commercial site from HSRE-PMB San Jose in January for $340 million, financed with a 30-year revenue bond. Officials said owning instead of leasing will save about $112 million over three decades. Construction ran four years. A 600-space garage sits on the lot. More than 11,000 households are within walking distance; about 90,000 people live a 10-minute drive away. Apartments bookend the block. The Urban Village map already wanted density here and putting the biggest public clinic on that corner is the most practical version of that map.

Weekday clinic hours run 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult and pediatric urgent care stay open until 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and until 5 p.m. on weekends. County clinics already see 1.3 million visits a year. This building is the bet that wait times drop when primary care, dental, and after-hours urgent care share an elevator and a light-rail platform.

Hours and a service list live at https://www.scvh.org/sjc

Source: San Jose Spotlight