Park Habitat Brings Housing and Innovation to Downtown San Jose

A revised vision for Downtown San Jose emerges with the proposed Park Habitat development at 180 Park Ave., where developer Westbank shifts from an office tower to a mixed-use project featuring 391 housing units alongside a data center. Positioned next to The Tech Interactive museum, this initiative promises to blend residential living with cutting-edge technology, potentially allowing for museum expansion. The setup captures waste heat from the data center to supply low-cost, low-carbon energy to the homes, showcasing smart sustainability in the heart of the city.

This project aligns with efforts to create vibrant, walkable urban spaces, placing residents near Plaza de Cesar Chavez, cultural centers, and transit options. By intermixing housing and tech infrastructure, Park Habitat contributes to a dynamic downtown environment that supports both daily life and economic growth. The added housing aims to increase the nighttime population, fostering a lively atmosphere for shops, restaurants, and events throughout the area.

As demand for data centers rises across the Bay Area, this development strengthens San Jose's position as a hub for innovation while addressing housing needs. With PG&E adapting to growing energy requirements, projects like Park Habitat demonstrate forward-thinking solutions that benefit the community. Residents and visitors can look forward to a more connected and efficient urban landscape, enhancing the appeal of Downtown San Jose as a place to live, work, and explore.

Source: SiliconValley.com

San Jose Leads with Major Progress on Unsheltered Homelessness

San Jose demonstrated effective strategies in addressing homelessness as the 2025 Point-in-Time Count reveals a nearly 23 percent drop in unsheltered residents since 2019, bringing the number down from over 5,100 to about 4,000. This achievement reflects the city's commitment to expanding shelter options, with the sheltered population growing by 160 percent over the same period, from 980 to 2,544 individuals. Such advancements position San Jose ahead of regional and state averages, where the sheltered rate now stands at nearly 40 percent, surpassing Santa Clara County's 30 percent and California's 34 percent.

City initiatives focus on immediate solutions like Emergency Interim Housing and hotel leases, with plans to add over 1,000 beds by the end of 2025. These efforts contrast with broader trends in Santa Clara County outside San Jose, which saw an increase of more than 700 unsheltered people since 2019 and a decline in its sheltered rate to 16.5 percent. San Jose's approach emphasizes bringing people indoors quickly and connecting them to services, setting an example for other communities to follow in tackling encampments.

Mayor Matt Mahan highlighted the impact, stating, “San José has proven that investing in shelter and interim housing works — now it’s time for every city and county to step up and do their fair share.” City Manager Jennifer Maguire added, “The city has made significant progress in reducing unsheltered homelessness. This year, we expect to open additional sites that include Emergency Interim Housing and hotel leases. Providing a diverse set of sites ensures we have dignified options for our unhoused community to come off the streets and into a safe location.” Ongoing counts by the Housing Department will provide further insights early next year, reinforcing San Jose's proactive stance.

Source: San Jose Inside