July 30, 2007

A few months ago, San Jose’s skyline became immortalized on Starbucks newest collection of mugs joining 58 other cities in the “Architect Series.” The mugs prominently feature downtown San Jose’s skyline with noteables such as Knight Ridder, the Fairmont, and the Tech Museum in the drawing. These are more than just coffee cups, for many people they are collectors items. With the number of high-rise residential towers being built in downtown San Jose, the skyline you currently see on the Starbucks mug will be much different in a few years. If Starbucks did a skyline photo in a few years, what would the downtown San Jose skyline look like then? New buildings such as Axis, Tower 88 at Central Place, Three Sixty Residences, and City Front Square will all undoubtedly change the skyline for downtown San Jose . . . and the Starbucks mugs.

July 27, 2007

Katherine Conrad reports in today’s San Jose Mercury that Urban West Associates, the developer for the proposed City Front Square project, has agreed to lower its two high rise residential towers from 25 floors to 24 floors.  Urban West agreed to reduce the height of the two towers by cutting out a floor to allay height restriction concerns raised by officials at Mineta San Jose International Airport.  Lowering City Front Square’s two towers to 24 floors also lowers the total number of proposed condo units from 414 to 400.  To induce Urban West to lower the height of the buildings, the San Jose Redevelopment Agency lowered the price for the parcel of land to $27.2 million from $28.6 million. 

City Front Square is another in a line of planned high rise residential towers in downtown San Jose.  The project, located on a parcel known as Block 8 on Market Street near the Fairmont Hotel, is expected to break ground in 2009 with completion of the first tower in 2010. 

The San Jose Grand Prix is coming to downtown San Jose this weekend, July 27-29.  Driving thru downtown San Jose you’ll see the barricades and grandstands going up.  If you’ve never been to the San Jose Grand Prix, it really is a spectacular even when you consider that its a racetrack on the streets of downtown San Jose.  This year, the San Jose Grand Prix is offering “Fast Friday” vouchers for two free general admission tickets to Friday’s events.  This is a great way to check out the San Jose Grand Prix for free.  For voucher information, go to the City of San Jose’s Grand Prix page (http://www.sanjoseca.gov/grandprix/).  The page also contains information on street closures, parking, and public transportation to the event.  For additional race info, go to www.sanjosegrandprix.com. 

  Construction in Downtown San Diego

July 20, 2007

Team SVLC just returned from a research and training trip to San Diego, California.  San Diego has done a tremendous job revitalizing its downtown area and is still growing with another half dozen high rise residential complexes currently in construction.  While downtown San Jose may never be San Diego (few places are), with the redevelopment underway, downtown San Jose is headed in the right direction. 

We were able to visit and observe the high rise complexes in downtown San Diego in action, including visiting a unit on the 32nd floor of The Grande complex and looking into Petco Park from the 11th floor of Icon.  Both of these complexes offer spectacular views and are maintained immaculately.  Concierge service, full-time attendants, and movie theater rooms are just a few of the quailty amenities featured in these beautiful high rise complexes.  Similar amenities are being advertised in downtown San Jose’s upcoming new developments such as Three Sixty Residences, Axis, and Tower 88.  After this trip to San Diego, SVLC is better equipped to represent buyers in these new high rise communities.  We have a better understanding of how these amenities benefit residents and what your HOA fees are going towards.  In addition, we also have more knowledge about issues that may come up when thinking about purchasing in these new communities, such as view implications and community infrastructure.  There is a lot of excitement with these new high rises coming to downtown San Jose and we are definitely looking forward to the openings as well. 

Special thanks to Mike Ciampa of 92101 Urban Living for his time and knowledge.  If anyone is interested in buying a condo in downtown San Diego, check out www.92101urbanliving.com and contact Mike.  He is a downtown San Diego specialist and one of the best in the business. 

One of the many great features about downtown San Jose is the number of events happening in downtown . . . many of which are FREE!  If you haven’t seen the list of events scheduled for downtown San Jose this summer, here is a quick rundown: 

Music in the Park
Plaza de Cesar Chavez
Free concerts 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm

July 12:  The English Beat (ska revival/new wave) with Dub FX (reggae and dub)
July 19:  White Album Ensemble (Beatles tribute)
July 26:  Brandi Carlile (rock)
August 2:  Jackie Greene (blues and roots rock) with Aphrodesia (Afrobeat/funk)
August 9:  Tony! Toni! Tone! presents Dwayne Wiggins (R&B)
August 16:  Mandy Moore (pop)
August 23:  Grupo Fantasma (funk/classic salsa/cumbia/meringue)
August 30:  Lakeside (funk/R&B) with Nu Day
September 6:  Finger Eleven (alternative rock) with Sick Puppies

Downtown Farmers Market
San Pedro Square
Fridays 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Cinema San Pedro
San Pedro Square
Free movies begin at dusk

June 20:  Airplane! (1980)
June 27:  Rear Window (1954)
July 11:  Blue Hawaii (1961)
July 18:  Old School (2003)
July 25:  Goldfinger (1964)
August 1:  Rocky (1976)
August 8:  The Omen (1976)
August 15:  Pillow Talk (1959)
August 22:  The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
August 29:  Risky Business (1983)

Cinema St. James
St. James Park
Free movies begin at dusk

August 3:  My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
August 10:  Edward Scissorhands (1990)
August 17:  Wizard of Oz (1939)
August 24:  Back to the Future (1985)

San Jose Grand Prix
Downtown San Jose
July 27-29

San Jose Jazz Festival
August 6-12
Plaza de Cesar Chavez and environs

32 Annual Tapestry Arts Festival
September 1-3
Plaza de Cesar Chavez and Discovery Meadow

*Schedules and performers subject to change