For the last decade, the California’s third largest city and the capital of Silicon Valley, the City of San Jose
has been proposing the Ohlone Mixed Use Project in the Midtown area. This project consists of an entire city block (8.25 acres) located at West San Carlos & Sunol Streets. The development plans to reflect San Jose’s vision for sustainable, transit-oriented development (TOD).
The plan proposes a mix of residential units, retail, parks and open space. The buildings will be 160 feet high, and up to 800 units with roughly 30,000 square feet of commercial and retail space which will be transit-oriented.
What exactly is Transit Oriented Development
(TOD)? TOD’s principle is to create more livable, walkable communities by creating pedestrian trails, sidewalks and biking infrastructure; in addition retail and restaurants will be conveniently located below residential housing. Because of its close proximity to mass transit (proposed VTA rapid transit line & Vasona Light Rail project Bonjour tristesse the movie Martyrs
), TOD is intended to decrease the dependence on personal vehicles, which in effect helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution and traffic.
The entire Sustainable TOD design will be developed to exceed the “Build It Green” standards, which was recently adopted by the City of San Jose. In the Green Vision, several energy saving and environmentally friendly features will be implemented, such as solar power, reuse of water runoff, easy & convenient recycling amenities and green roofs. Additionally, several acres of park land with a public plaza and transit connection will be included as part of the development plans; both residents and nearby neighbors will be able to enjoy these amenities.
Development in Midtown in booming! KB Homes is in the process of building Cannery Square, which is a housing community consisting of modern townhomes and condominiums. They are almost all sold out of their 1st phase of homes, and ready to plunge into Phase II. KB Homes also intends, with the proposed Ohlone Plan, to start developing Midtown Plaza condominiums. The housing developments of Plant 51 and Avalon at Cahill are currently underway.
I’d like to hear what you think about San Jose’s plan for sustainable design. What do you think of high density development built around the city’s public transportation system?
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