San José Development News

edsg25 · February 10th, 2006, 10:25 AM

San Jose Development News

image hosted on flickr

San Jose Skyline Panoramic by SkylineScenes (Bill Cobb), on Flickr

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Will downtown San Jose ever develop the type of height and density of the downtowns in San Francisco, Oakland, and Sacramento?

snufalufugus · February 10th, 2006, 07:31 PM

Not as long as airplanes continue to fly over downtown on their way to San Jose Int'l airport.

San Diego also has their airport very close to downtown, but I don't think the flight plath to the airport goes directly over downtown. However, San Diego's downtown is growing pretty nicely and dense.

612bv3 · February 11th, 2006, 12:55 AM

It could with low-rise and mid-rise buildings. As for that airport, the flight path does go over downtown San Jose. San Jose wont have a skyline like San Francisco, Sacramento and maybe even Oakland but it can have the density. San Jose also has a lot of freeways compared to SF, Sac, and Oak, it's the LA of NorCal.

Here's an aerial of the airport and downtown SJ.
http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v...style=a&lvl=14

VanSeaPor · February 22nd, 2006, 05:01 AM

Density-Quite possibly
Height-No

*NOR CAL* · February 26th, 2006, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 612bv3

San Jose also has a lot of freeways compared to SF, Sac, and Oak, it's the LA of NorCal.

Yea, I've always said this too, and also there's a lot of palm trees compared to the rest of the bay... well there are some small areas with a lot but San Jose i'd say has the most wide spread.

Slammed0 · February 27th, 2006, 02:43 AM

Ya its too bad they will never have a great skyline because it is a beautiful area down there.

chuangk · February 27th, 2006, 04:46 AM

I totally agree SJ can have a much better skyline if the airpot is not there.
However, some european cities have great urbanity w-out skyscrapers,
so I believe SJ can do that as well

jchernin · March 1st, 2006, 06:42 PM

^ i totally agree.
increased height does not equal increased density necessarily. much of san francisco consists of 2-6 story buildings, yet it has the 2nd highest density in the nation. it's more about using the space wisely.

2nd, a downtown airport doesn't and shouldn't mean the city will never have a skyline. san diego's airport is right by their downtown, creating a height limit of 500 ft above sea level. however, san diego is in the midst of a high-rise condo boom.

what makes san jose different is the fact that it's basically a suburb. more ppl leave the city for work then commute in during the day. the city was designed for the car. just looking at a map makes u realize there are more freeways/expressways in SJ then anywhere else in the bay. until SJ in itself becomes a DESTINATION, instead of a massive suburban residentail complex that serves sf, mountain view, palo alto, etc, i don't think ur gonna see much in the way of high-rises.

kiddorbitz01 · April 27th, 2006, 07:53 PM

Sj will definately have a beautiful skyline, its underway. Maybe not that tall but tall enough. The density we will achieve. Remember also that the strip of north first street between Brokaw rd and Montague expwy will be developed into high-rise mixed residential and commercial. It will be a second downtown. I believe the mercury news called it "Dowtown North".

surrill · April 28th, 2006, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiddorbitz01

Sj will definately have a beautiful skyline, its underway. Maybe not that tall but tall enough. The density we will achieve. Remember also that the strip of north first street between Brokaw rd and Montague expwy will be developed into high-rise mixed residential and commercial. It will be a second downtown. I believe the mercury news called it "Dowtown North".

does any body know if there are height restrictions in North San Jose? the airport is right across the free way,but the approach is nowhere near the proposed Industrial Core Area.if we cant have height downtown,might as well get it in N. San Jose and make downtown super dense.

arturo · May 1st, 2006, 10:13 PM

From what I've found, the proposed height limit will be set at a measely 120 feet. (Although I feel they will be forced to raise it) That is enough to create density so long as planning is done properly (ie. ground floor retail) but I doubt the people governing San Jose have the vision to carry it out properly. I fear it will end up looking nice but will be a pain in the arse to walk the way Almaden Blvd is.

jiggawhat? · May 1st, 2006, 11:50 PM

I JUst flew into san jose yesterday...HAHA I COULD NOT BELIEVE the downtown...and how low the planes fl to those buildings...its amazing..its like u can almost touch them...there is no way they can buikld any higher.

surrill · May 2nd, 2006, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arturo

From what I've found, the proposed height limit will be set at a measely 120 feet. (Although I feel they will be forced to raise it) That is enough to create density so long as planning is done properly (ie. ground floor retail) but I doubt the people governing San Jose have the vision to carry it out properly. I fear it will end up looking nice but will be a pain in the arse to walk the way Almaden Blvd is.

i hope they allow taller buildings....at least 400 feet..ive just given up on downtown....i just dont see it bein vibrant with all those single family homes in the northside being so close to down down....and the redevelopment agency wont use eminent domain....plus the airport is so close causing noise pollution and the hight restrictions just kill it....lets just move on to north san jose....its bigger than down town most of the businesses are there. i hope they dont tap into coyote valley tho...that would be ashame...

612bv3 · May 2nd, 2006, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiddorbitz01

Sj will definately have a beautiful skyline, its underway. Maybe not that tall but tall enough. The density we will achieve. Remember also that the strip of north first street between Brokaw rd and Montague expwy will be developed into high-rise mixed residential and commercial. It will be a second downtown. I believe the mercury news called it "Dowtown North".

Wont the airport still be in the way. How high can you build in that area?

surrill · May 2nd, 2006, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 612bv3

Wont the airport still be in the way. How high can you build in that area?

the airport approach is not directly over the industrial core in north san jose the way it is downtown.

612bv3 · May 2nd, 2006, 04:05 AM

OK I see it now. I thought planes went over that area when they're landing.

arturo · May 2nd, 2006, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surrill

i just dont see it bein vibrant with all those single family homes in the northside being so close to down down....and the redevelopment agency wont use eminent domain....plus the airport is so close causing noise pollution and the hight restrictions just kill it....lets just move on to north san jose....its bigger than down town most of the businesses are there. i hope they dont tap into coyote valley tho...that would be ashame...

As a resident of one of those single family homes I hope the city never uses eminent domain!

Realistically the only place downtown has to go is north and south along First St and Monterey Hwy. and First St already has Light Rail, which would at least connect it to downtown. If only it ran underground...
And as far as Coyote Valley, that will be the biggest mistake if it goes through. It will only encourage sprawl southward away from the bay proper instead of towards it (where it shold go if we want to avoid further comparisons to LA). But leave it it to San Jose's gifted politicos to support the revitalization of downtown while simultaneously promoting a Coyote plan that discourages downtown growth.

arturo · October 2nd, 2007, 10:47 PM

bump.

krudmonk · October 2nd, 2007, 10:55 PM

Sacramento's downtown is more dense? I think height plays tricks in some people's minds.

pistola · October 3rd, 2007, 03:37 AM

Sac's downtown is probably not as dense as SJ, but the airport is nowhere near downtown and with the railyards ready to go, Sac's downtown will be far superior density wise and taller. BTW I do like SJ as a city. There are some neato stuff.

February 10th, 2006, 10:25 AM	#1
edsg25 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 9,399 Likes (Received): 0	San José Development News San Jose Development News image hosted on flickr San Jose Skyline Panoramic by SkylineScenes (Bill Cobb), on Flickr ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Will downtown San Jose ever develop the type of height and density of the downtowns in San Francisco, Oakland, and Sacramento? Last edited by desertpunk; May 8th, 2013 at 11:25 PM.

February 11th, 2006, 12:55 AM	#3
612bv3 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Alameda Posts: 1,537 Likes (Received): 1	It could with low-rise and mid-rise buildings. As for that airport, the flight path does go over downtown San Jose. San Jose wont have a skyline like San Francisco, Sacramento and maybe even Oakland but it can have the density. San Jose also has a lot of freeways compared to SF, Sac, and Oak, it's the LA of NorCal. Here's an aerial of the airport and downtown SJ. http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v...style=a&lvl=14 __________________ My BART Fantasy Maps: 1 \| 2 \| 3 \| 4 \| 4.1 \| Circle \| Other Maps

February 22nd, 2006, 05:01 AM	#4
VanSeaPor Yeah..... Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: All cities on North America's west coast Posts: 728 Likes (Received): 0	Density-Quite possibly Height-No __________________ "When the productive need to ask permission from the unproductive in order to produce, then you may know that your culture is doomed."-Ayn Rand "Fact: That every man who puts money into the hands of a 'government' (so called), puts into its hands a sword which will be used against himself, to extort more money from him, and also to keep him in subjection to its arbitrary will."-Lysander Spooner "If you don't stand for anything, you don't stand for anything!"-George W Bush

April 27th, 2006, 07:53 PM	#9
kiddorbitz01 VIVA ZAPATA!! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Mexico Df / San Jose CA. Posts: 344 Likes (Received): 0	Sj will definately have a beautiful skyline, its underway. Maybe not that tall but tall enough. The density we will achieve. Remember also that the strip of north first street between Brokaw rd and Montague expwy will be developed into high-rise mixed residential and commercial. It will be a second downtown. I believe the mercury news called it "Dowtown North". __________________ Prefiero morir de pie, que vivir toda una vida arrodillado-Zapata

May 2nd, 2006, 04:05 AM	#16
612bv3 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Alameda Posts: 1,537 Likes (Received): 1	OK I see it now. I thought planes went over that area when they're landing. __________________ My BART Fantasy Maps: 1 \| 2 \| 3 \| 4 \| 4.1 \| Circle \| Other Maps

February 10th, 2006, 07:31 PM	#2
snufalufugus Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 12 Likes (Received): 0	Not as long as airplanes continue to fly over downtown on their way to San Jose Int'l airport. San Diego also has their airport very close to downtown, but I don't think the flight plath to the airport goes directly over downtown. However, San Diego's downtown is growing pretty nicely and dense.

February 27th, 2006, 02:43 AM	#6
Slammed0 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 132 Likes (Received): 0	Ya its too bad they will never have a great skyline because it is a beautiful area down there.

February 27th, 2006, 04:46 AM	#7
chuangk Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: San Jose, CA/ Bellevue,WA/ Taichung, Taiwan Posts: 53 Likes (Received): 0	I totally agree SJ can have a much better skyline if the airpot is not there. However, some european cities have great urbanity w-out skyscrapers, so I believe SJ can do that as well

March 1st, 2006, 06:42 PM	#8
jchernin Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Santa Rosa/North Bay Posts: 265 Likes (Received): 0	^ i totally agree. increased height does not equal increased density necessarily. much of san francisco consists of 2-6 story buildings, yet it has the 2nd highest density in the nation. it's more about using the space wisely. 2nd, a downtown airport doesn't and shouldn't mean the city will never have a skyline. san diego's airport is right by their downtown, creating a height limit of 500 ft above sea level. however, san diego is in the midst of a high-rise condo boom. what makes san jose different is the fact that it's basically a suburb. more ppl leave the city for work then commute in during the day. the city was designed for the car. just looking at a map makes u realize there are more freeways/expressways in SJ then anywhere else in the bay. until SJ in itself becomes a DESTINATION, instead of a massive suburban residentail complex that serves sf, mountain view, palo alto, etc, i don't think ur gonna see much in the way of high-rises.

May 1st, 2006, 10:13 PM	#11
arturo Downtown San Jose Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Nanchang, China Posts: 733 Likes (Received): 0	From what I've found, the proposed height limit will be set at a measely 120 feet. (Although I feel they will be forced to raise it) That is enough to create density so long as planning is done properly (ie. ground floor retail) but I doubt the people governing San Jose have the vision to carry it out properly. I fear it will end up looking nice but will be a pain in the arse to walk the way Almaden Blvd is.

May 1st, 2006, 11:50 PM	#12
jiggawhat? Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 816 Likes (Received): 5	I JUst flew into san jose yesterday...HAHA I COULD NOT BELIEVE the downtown...and how low the planes fl to those buildings...its amazing..its like u can almost touch them...there is no way they can buikld any higher.

October 2nd, 2007, 10:47 PM	#18
arturo Downtown San Jose Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Nanchang, China Posts: 733 Likes (Received): 0	bump. __________________ neither borders nor nations nor patriotism

October 2nd, 2007, 10:55 PM	#19
krudmonk sucks Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sannozay Posts: 1,647 Likes (Received): 4	Sacramento's downtown is more dense? I think height plays tricks in some people's minds.

October 3rd, 2007, 03:37 AM	#20
pistola Pistola916 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: san francisco/sacramento Posts: 16 Likes (Received): 0	Sac's downtown is probably not as dense as SJ, but the airport is nowhere near downtown and with the railyards ready to go, Sac's downtown will be far superior density wise and taller. BTW I do like SJ as a city. There are some neato stuff.

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