Google’s Bold San Jose Mixed-Use Transit Village Clears Key Hurdle

Google’s bold plans for creating a mixed-use transit village west of downtown San Jose took a big step forward this week when the San Jose Planning Commission gave it unanimous approval, sending the project next to the City Council. The Bay Area Council has joined with the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, SPUR, the Housing Action Coalition and others to advocate for the project. It’s scheduled to go to the San Jose City Council for final approval on May 25.

The Downtown West project would transform 80 acres surrounding the Diridon Station transportation hub into a vibrant mix of housing, office and retail space and 15 acres of public parks, plazas and green spaces. Developed through a thoughtful and intensive community process, Downtown West proposes 4,000 units of new housing and possibly up to 5,900 units, with a quarter being set aside as affordable, 7.3 million square feet of office space, and 500,000 square feet of retail, arts, cultural, education and hotel space.

The project, which would be built over the next two decades, includes a first-of-its-kind $200 million Community Stabilization and Opportunity Pathways Fund that is 100% focused on social equity and will include significant support for anti-displacement, homelessness and affordable housing efforts.