Equinix Building Huge Data Center in South San Jose

Equinix is a publicly-traded real estate trust that operated 105 data centers around the world. They are planning to add up to 1 million SQFT of office space across five new buildings in South San Jose! This is one of their best performing markets and they want to make sure that they are preparing for the future.

If the project is approved, Equinix will build three, two-story data centers totaling 579,000 SQFT on former owned by Xilinx and another two, two-story data centers totaling 386,000 SQFT near its existing buildings on Great Oaks.

Many data center operators try to locate in Santa Clara which is serviced by the exceptional utility, Silicon Valley Power as opposed to PG&E. Silicon Valley Power not only sells their juice for far less than PG&E, but they are more reliable and provide better customer service. However, land has become so expensive in Santa Clara that the numbers are penning out better in San Jose despite PG&E. It also helps that Equinix has already laid out miles of fiber in South San Jose.

While data centers do not provide a ton of jobs, they do provide the city with significant tax revenue while requiring minimal city services. It is also tough to argue with more commercial development in residential-heavy South San Jose.

Source: SVBJ

New Stanford Cancer Center in San Jose

A cutting-edge 70,000 SQFT Stanford Health facility will be open soon for patient care. The facility features some of the most advanced cancer fighting technologies in the world., including a linear accelerator (pictured below), CyberKnife, and targeted treatments using monoclonal antibodies. There is also an infusion treatment area on the top floor of the four-story building with expansive views of the valley.

The facility is located in South San Jose near Good Samaritan Hospital and should be ready to treat patients by mid-July.

Source: SVBJ

New Beer Warehouse in South San Jose

It is not everyday you year about development in South San Jose, especially in industries outside of tech. DBI Beverage Inc. is building a new warehouse to store beer off of Hellyer Avenue on a 10 acre site. The warehouse will likely be somewhere between 150,000 SQFT and 180,000 SQFT with soaring 32-foot-tall ceilings. The company stocks hundreds of beers, many of which are of the craft variety. Some of the more interesting labels they stock are 21st Amendment, Lagunitas, Ballast Point, Dogfish Head, Russian River Brewing, and Heretic. They also have more mainstream labels like MillerCoors, Heineken, and Sapporo. Increased beer distribution capacity is likely a good thing for Silicon Valley beer fans.

DBI Beverage will also have a neighbor--Panattoni is going to build a 111,000 SQFT industrial warehouse next door. That one will be a speculative project, meaning it will be built without a tenant in tow.

Source: SVBJ

Content Magazine Pick-Up Party Today!

Content Magazine's latest issues comes out today and explores how we connect with our community. As is the norm with Content, they throw a party for their subscribers and collaborators every time a new issue comes out. This time it will be hosted at Southern Lumber--a South Bay staple that will be closing its doors after 110 years of service.

At the party, Content will reveal the winners of the Visual San Jose 2015 photo contest. Subscribers get a signature drink and an appetizer for FREE and there is no cover charge for the event. If you aren't a subscriber yet, just head over here!

Music: Hill Man, Xiomyr, Beer: Santa Clara Valley Brewing
Food: Whole Foods
Sponsors: Southern Lumber, Filco Events, Whole Foods, Santa Clara Valley Brewing, Visual SJ, Pac SJ

CONNECT 7.2 Featuring: Ekaterinburg, Russia | Wayfinding | Blaise Rosenthal | Visual SJ Photo Contest Winners | Bay Area Glass Institute ArtKick: Nancy and Sheldon Laube | Jeffrey Brian Adams | CatapultWorks: Tom Beck | Shareology, Bryan Kramer | Clever Girls Collective: Cat Lincoln, Stefania Pomponi & Kristy Sammis | H & H Lighting | Wearhaus: Richie Zeng & Nelson Zhang | Bellabeat: Urška Sršen | Hacker/Founders: Jonathan Nelson | SETI: Drs. Jill Tarter, Nathalie Cabrol & Lori Fenton | Southern Lumber: Jeff Pohle | Knight Foundation: Danny Harris | Savory Kitchen: Colleen Janke | Nomikai: Kathy and Tone Tran | San Jose Jazz: Brendan Rawson & Bruce Labadie | Xiomyr: Billy Barnes & Koosha Araghi | Hill Man | Album Picks: Tommy Aguilar | Mike McGee

Communications Hill - Final Phase

Communications Hill is one of the largest master-planned communities in the history of San Jose. The region is about to enter its final stage of development which will last a decade. Last week KB Home bought a 9.8-acre parcel is ais about to start construction on 154 units that will be a mix of townhomes and "small-lot" single family homes. That will be followed by another 160 units after those are complete in mid 2016.

Also part of long term plan is a 60,000 SQFT retail village on the hill, six-story contemporary condos, 1.4 million SQFT of industrial space, and a better connection to transit. As far as suburban projects go, I think this is as good as your're going to get.

Source: SVBJ

BAE Moving to South San Jose

A huge tenant is coming to South San Jose and bring with it 500 or so jobs. BAE Systems currently has their US headquarters in Santa Clara on Coleman Ave. That site is going to be demolished soon in order to make way for the Coleman Highline office project, forcing BAE to move elsewhere.

The new BAE headquarters will be at 6331 and 6311 San Ignacio Ave., blocks away from Lightrail and Highway 85. There is also a substantial residential population in the area... hundreds of thousands of people live within a five mile radius.

Needless to say, this deal is a big financial win for San Jose. The company will bring a solid amount of tax dollars and high-paying engineering jobs to our city, as well as either a short or reverse commute for most of its employees. For more details, hit the source link below!

Source: SVBJ

Equinix Building Data Center in South San Jose

Xilinx has recently sold a 34-acre site in Edenvale to one of the largest operators of data centers in the US, Equinix. The company is planning to build a brand new data center in the area bound by Santa Teresa, San Ignacio Avenue, Via del Oro, and Great Oaks Boulevard. This will be the first major new construction project in the area in years.

There seems to be some downside since a data center won't bring as many jobs as a traditional office building. However, the project will bring much-needed property tax dollars to the City of San Jose while having a minimal impact on traffic and infrastructure... not a bad deal at all.

Source: SVBJ

Boudin SF Brings the Flavor of Fresh-Baked Sourdough to Almaden Plaza Shopping Center in San Jose on March 19

First 100 Guests on Opening Day to Receive Free Bread for a Year

Gloriously irresistible fresh-baked sourdough bread will soon be available at Almaden Plaza Shopping Center in San Jose. Boudin Bakery CEO Sharon Duvall today announced that the company will open its 11th Northern California Boudin SF location in Almaden Valley on March 19.

Boudin SF is a convenient, casual-dining restaurant where guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner. Residents of San Jose who have long enjoyed The Original San Francisco Sourdough™ can soon savor the unforgettable experience of breaking open an aromatic loaf in a new location close to home. Almaden Plaza Shopping Center marks the company’s second San Jose restaurant and follows the opening of Boudin SF in West Valley Center last April.

“We are thrilled to open another location in the South Bay,” said Duvall. “We are extremely thankful for our loyal Boudin sourdough fans and excited to welcome our new neighbors in the Almaden Valley community to the restaurant.”

Bread Winners

When Boudin SF at Almaden Plaza opens its doors to the public on March 19, the first 100 guests in line will win a year’s supply of The Original San Francisco Sourdough™. Boudin enthusiasts, affectionately known as “Bread Winners,” often camp overnight to ensure a spot in line and may begin queuing up at 5:00 p.m. on March 18. Boudin SF has reserved the first place in the Bread Winners line for Second Harvest Food Bank, a local non-profit that provides food to nearly one quarter of a million people each month and is one of the largest food banks in the nation. Boudin SF has long been a supporter of food banks and regularly donates fresh bread to local charities.

Boudin SF Menu

Ideal for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Boudin SF features a comprehensive menu of both healthy and hearty fare to delight a variety of palettes. Boudin SF’s attention to detail shines through in every dish. Seasonal, organic, and locally-sourced ingredients are used whenever possible.

Boudin SF’s wide variety of sandwiches are a delicious and convenient option for lunch or a picnic. Guests may also choose from perennial favorites such as Chicken Pesto with chicken breast, tomatoes, arugula, pesto mayo, and balsamic vinaigrette on a sourdough baguette or the California Veggie with Havarti cheese, avocado, red peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, red onion, tomatoes, sun-dried tomato spread, and balsamic vinaigrette on multigrain bread. After a day of shopping or hiking, Boudin's classic New England-style Clam Chowder or Butternut Squash Soup in a signature sourdough bread bowl is warm and filling. Boudin SF is perfect for busy families and professionals. Stop by for a quick dinner or linger over a glass of beer or California wines. For a quick breakfast after dropping off the kids at school or an early morning workout, Boudin SF has everything from Vegetable Scrambles to Sourdough French Toast. 

Boudin SF also offers Web-to-Go service, allowing customers to place an order in advance and then pick it up quickly on the way to the park, office or home – no waiting in line. Available online at: www.boudinwebtogo.com.

Boudin SF at Almaden Plaza Shopping Center is located at 5353 Almaden Expressway in San Jose, CA  95118. Telephone: 408-513-1050. Open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.



About Boudin Bakery

Headquartered in San Francisco, Boudin Bakery is world-famous for The Original San Francisco Sourdough™, which is baked with the same Mother Dough, or sourdough starter, used since 1849. Born in the Gold Rush, Boudin is the oldest continuously operating business in San Francisco. Because each loaf is made from a portion of the original sourdough starter, Boudin Sourdough is one of a kind.  With its delicious tangy flavor, golden crunchy crust, and soft chewy center – along with its famous aroma – it has been described as “a sensory experience in a simple loaf of bread.” Boudin SF is a convenient, casual-dining restaurant with locations throughout California where guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Boudin at the Wharf, located in the heart of San Francisco’s renowned waterfront, is Boudin’s flagship facility and home to Bistro Boudin, Boudin Museum & Bakery Tour, a demonstration bakery, Bakers Hall Marketplace and a Boudin Café. Boudin bread can be purchased at the Wharf and all Boudin restaurants located throughout California. Boudin also offers catering and operates a gift catalog business, which can be found online www.boudinbakery.com.

New Costco Officially Coming to South San Jose

Last week developers confirmed that a new Costco would be coming to South San Jose on a 76-acre parcel near the intersection of Highway 85 and Monterey Highway. This will be San Jose's 4th Costco--the other 3 are in Almaden, North San Jose, and off Tully.

The Wholesaler will be part of a project that includes up to 780 residential units, 154,000 SQFT of retail, and 260,000 SQFT of office or R&D.

Given the large number of people that currently live in this part of South San Jose (as well as future residents from all the new development there), this should benefit an area that is under-serviced by retail. I will also mention that this will be the closest San Jose Costco to a Caltrain station, not that I foresee anyone carrying reams of toilet paper on the train.

Source: SVBJ

Jabil Leasing 100,000 SQFT in Edenvale

Jabil provides manufacturing services for high tech companies in the valley with an emphasis on emerging technologies. They are planning to expand in a big way by leasing a whole 100,000 SQFT building in South San Jose at 6375 San Ignacio Avenue. This is right around the corner from Jabil's current 180,000 SQFT facility.

This is great news for South San Jose, where office vacancies have been increasing for the past three quarters and are currently at 22.3%. The last quarter was the first where the vacancy rate has actually declined and this will help keep that positive trend going.

Source: SVBJ

Balermino Park Under Construction on Almaden Road

Balermino Park is being built on 1.8 acres near the Almaden Family Apartments. The most unique feature in the park will be a pavement design that resembles traditional Ohlone basket weaving (the person the park is named after was born to Ohlone-speaking parents). Balermino will also have picnic areas, play structures, and a basketball court.

Completion is scheduled by the end of the year and based on the photos below from San Jose Trails it looks like a lot of progress has already been made.

Sources: San Jose Trails, The Merc

Good Samaritan Hospital Spending $33 Million to Expand Their Emergency Rooms

Good Samaritan Hospital in South San Jose is expanding its emergency operations from 7,857 SQFT to 22,653 SQFT. This $33 Million project will be done in the existing space. Good Sam will be relocating other departments and knocking down walls in order to make room for the larger ER, allowing the hospital to increase the number of patients they see from 54,000 to 75,000.

As part of the expansion they will have a new kid-friendly waiting area, a new ambulance drop-off area and a CT scanner dedicated to the ER. Construction will start next year and should wrap up by 2017.

Source: SVBJ

Walmart Grocery Store Will Anchor Monterey Road Shopping Center

Yet another Walmart Neighborhood Market is coming to San Jose. This one will be a 50,000 SQFT anchor store at the new Sun Garden Center on Monterey Road. It is expected that it will open in Q4 of this year.

This location is near Spartan Stadium and the Plant Shopping Center. Sun Garden will also have space for a 44,576 anchor store and 4-5 smaller retail spots for restaurants or banks.

Source: SVBJ

Another Costco Coming to South San Jose

An empty 76-acre Edenvale site near Highway 85 and Great Oaks could become the site of another Costco. This is land that used to be part of the IBM/Hitachi campus. In addition to the massive wholesaler, there would be 260,000 SQFT of new office space, ~50,000 additional SQFT of retail, and 720 housing units. The city of San Jose plans for this to eventually become and urban village connected with mass transit.

One surprising side benefit of this development project is that $10 million would go towards the new San Jose Earthquakes Stadium. The money would be used for upgrading the stadium, including an upgraded seating system and riser, and a terra-cotta finish.

Source: SVBJ

More San Jose Luxury Apartments Break Ground

Below is a rendering of "Ascent," Shea Properties' latest apartment project. We are talking 650 units in South San Jose (former Hitachi campus) with an estimated completion of Spring 2015. The total project cost is going to be $200 million, making it quite an expensive development when looking at the unit count ($307k per unit). There will be one, two, and three-bedroom units and luxurious amenities such as saltwater pools, a yoga courtyard, and a community pizza oven.

Looks like nice project, I just wish there was an office component to it as well. We really need more jobs in South San Jose and more housing in North San Jose.

Source: SVBJ

Edgewater Networks Moves to South San Jose

Edgewater is an internet communications company with various solutions and services. They have been leasing 24,000 SQFT of space at 2895 Northwestern Parkway in Santa Clara for the last five years. The company has decided to upgrade their headquarters to 38,000 SQFT in South San Jose at Hellyer Oaks Technology Park. Low rents and a reverse commute seem to be attracting a little bit more attention to the area (Barracuda Networks made a big move here as well), but office vacancy in South San Jose is still hovering around 20%.

Source: SVBJ

City Ventures Building 550 Homes at Former IBM Site

Quite a few developments are in the queue for the area where 101 and 85 meet in South San Jose (where there was once an IBM Disk Drive facility). City Ventures will be one of the first to break ground and will turn 14 acres near Cottle and Monterey roads in 550 homes, 400 of which will be rentals (4-story building wrapped around a parking garage). The 150 for-sale units will all feature solar panels and will be prewired for electric cars in the garages. The project is also near the Blossom Hill Caltrain station, giving residents easy access to anything on the Caltrain corridor.

Lennar is also planning to build 840 units on 40 acres. St. Anton Partners is building a 275-unit apartment complex, and Hunter Properties is already under construction with a large retail project in the area. When all is said and done, the area will have almost 3,000 housing units and 320,000 SQFT of retail space.

Source: SVBJ

City Ventures Homes in Morgan Hill

Communication Hill Renders!

KB Homes owns 300 acres of Communication Hill and is planning to build up to 2,200 homes on 75 of those acres. The rest will be used for retail/commercial, an industrial park, open space, trails, and public parks.

We finally have some renders on what the new homes will look like, and I have to say they look pretty damn good. This is much nicer than what I was expecting. The design is very modern with sharp edges, a diverse color palette, and unique architectural features. I'm also happy to see that some of the buildings utilize seven stories, which would make them the most dense residential buildings in South San Jose.

You can click the images below to enlarge. What do you guys think?

Source: Anonymous Poster

Barracuda Networks Expands to South San Jose

One area of San Jose that has been very slow to benefit from the economic recovery is Edenvale. This South San Jose tech cluster was booming in the .COM days, but has been plagued with high vacancy rates for years now. However, it looks like things are starting to turn around.

Campbell-based Barracuda Networks has decided to move their manufacturing, customer support, hardware, and design teams to a 50,000 SQFT building in Edenvale (5710 Fontanso Way). A total of 100 jobs will be moving to San Jose. All it takes is a few high-profile deals like this to spark interest from other companies.

Edenvale is not close to mass transit, but does have a lot going for it. For starters it is close to the bulk of San Jose's current residential neighborhoods. Second, for those that don't live in the immediate area, it is a super-convenient reverse commute. Lastly, companies get a ton of bang for their buck. The price per square foot for the large amounts of space available is among the lowest in Silicon Valley. Hopefully more companies will follow in Barracuda Networks' footsteps.

Source: SVBJ

Bass Pro Shops is Building a GARGANTUAN Store in South San Jose

Bass Pro Shops is an outdoor retailer known for building huge destination stores. How huge? The San Jose store will be 145,000 SQFT, which is larger than your typical Costco. This store has an incredibly loyal and devoted following that drive an average of more than 50 miles to get to their closest store and stay an average of 2.5 hours per visit. Each store gets about 2 million visitors per year. This will be the first Bass Pro Shops in the Bay Area, and there are only two other stores in all of California.

The San Jose store will carry all sorts of camping, hunting, fishing, boating, and general outdoor gear. If none of that sounds appealing to you, I'm sure just walking around will be entertaining in and of itself. In fact, this store will come complete with a 12-lane "underwater" bowling alley and a seafood restaurant.

Bass Pro Shops will be located in Almaden Ranch at the corner of Almaden Expressway and Highway 85 and construction should be complete in 2015. Over 250-300 permanent jobs will be created when the store opens, not including seasonal employees.

Source: The Merc, SVBJ