A Parking Lot Beside Hammer Theatre Moves Toward 168 Affordable Homes

Planning Director Christopher Burton is scheduled to hear a seven-story affordable project on September 3 that would replace a 1.3-acre surface lot between South Second and South Third streets, just south of East San Fernando. The Sobrato Organization owns the asphalt. Pacific West Communities would build. AO drew the plans. The site sits next to San Jose State’s Hammer Theatre Center and across from the San Antonio light-rail stop, which is the whole point of putting housing here instead of another decade of empty spaces after the last show lets out.

Staff have recommended approval. Under the state’s Density Bonus Law the current count is 168 apartments: 33 reserved for very-low-income households, 133 for low-income households, and two market-rate manager units. Earlier filings this spring described 173 homes with a slightly different mix, including extremely-low-income apartments. Numbers often shift as drawings harden. What has not shifted is the claim that nearly every door would be deed-restricted. Sobrato held this lot since about 2010 and once floated a 24-story, 393-unit market tower that never left the page. The new version is shorter, cheaper to finance, and aimed at people who already work or study within walking distance of Paseo de San Antonio.

San Jose’s state housing assignment for 2023 through 2031 is 62,200 units. Council spent recent weeks arguing about whether denser housing should spread into more neighborhoods. This parcel does not need that debate. It already sits in the core, next to a campus, a theater, restaurants, and a train. Residents would not need a car to reach a job on Santa Clara Street or a class on campus. They would need the project to survive financing after the director’s stamp.

Pacific West has become a regular partner on below-market work around Northern California. Sobrato, long an office landlord, has been steering more of its land toward housing. Neither fact guarantees a groundbreaking. An approval on September 3 would still leave tax credits, construction costs, and a construction schedule. The useful test for Downtown San Jose is whether a parking lot that has sat idle beside a university theater finally turns into addresses instead of another rendering.

Source: Silicon Valley Business Journal

East San Jose's Light Rail Extension Advances Toward 2028 Opening

San Jose marks a significant step forward in public transit with the ongoing construction of the VTA Orange Line extension, a 2.4-mile addition that connects East San Jose more directly to the broader Bay Area network. This project, the first light rail expansion in over two decades, stretches from Alum Rock Station along Capitol Expressway to a new terminus at Eastridge Transit Center. Elevated viaducts carry the line above busy roadways, minimizing disruptions and enhancing safety for riders and drivers alike.

The extension includes two new stations designed for convenience and accessibility. An elevated stop at Story Road features pedestrian bridges, elevators, and stairs to link seamlessly with surrounding neighborhoods. The at-grade station at Tully Road integrates with the Eastridge Mall and existing bus services, making transfers straightforward. This setup supports local businesses during construction and promises to boost foot traffic once operational, invigorating commercial areas like shopping centers and eateries along the route.

Beyond immediate connectivity, the line links to BART at Milpitas, opening up efficient travel options to destinations across the region. Residents in East San Jose gain reliable alternatives to car travel amid growing congestion on major arterials. The development also highlights opportunities for smarter land use, such as reimagining underutilized spaces like Reid-Hillview Airport for community benefits.

The total budget exceeds $650 million and the grand opening is anticipated for 2028 (a year earlier than planned).

For more details, watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiHmXvXd6KU

Source: Usedmedia on Skyscraper City

Breaking Ground on The Fielden: Affordable Housing Takes Root in San Jose's Alum Rock Neighborhood

Construction has started on a new 160-unit affordable housing complex at 525 North Capitol Avenue in San Jose's Alum Rock area. Known as The Fielden, this five-story development replaces earlier plans for an office building. The project, led by Community Development Partners, marks their first venture in San Jose and stands as their most expensive to date, with a total cost of $123 million. Funding comes from multiple sources, including $8 million from Santa Clara County through the Measure A Affordable Housing Bond and a $26 million loan from the city of San Jose, which owns the site.

The Fielden will feature a variety of studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom apartments spread across a one-acre lot, totaling about 42,000 square feet. Among these, 52 units are set aside for individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness, homeless veterans, or those with disabilities, emphasizing support for vulnerable community members. Its location offers convenient access to the VTA light rail, making it easier for residents to connect with jobs, services, and other parts of the city. Completion is slated for June 2027, promising to add much-needed housing options in a growing urban landscape.

Community Development Partners is exploring a collaboration with local nonprofit Veggielution, which could involve a shared kitchen space in the building to promote community activities around food and farming. This initiative aligns with San Jose's efforts to build smarter and more inclusively, focusing on vertical growth to accommodate more people without sprawling into surrounding natural areas.

Source: SVBJ