Just in time for the grand opening of downtown San Jose’s newest grocery store, the Redevelopment Agency will host a grand opening for the Cental Place parking garage. The parking garage will be unveiled at a ribbon-cutting event on August 27 at 11:30am which precedes the highly anticipated grand opening of The Market by Safeway the following day, August 28. The parking garage is located between 2nd and 3rd Streets just off of San Fernando Street in downtown San Jose at the back of The 88.

The ribbon cutting grand opening event is being hosted by the San Jose Redevelopment Agency, the Downtown Parking Board, developers of The 88 (Wilson Meany Sullivan and The CIM Group), and the San Jose Downtown Association.

Central Place Parking Garage
Ribbon Cutting Grand Opening
August 27, 11:30 am
Central Placce between 2nd and 3rd Streets
Downtown San Jose

For anyone that didn’t get a chance to attend the “Off the Fence” Housing seminar/webinar last week, you can watch the entire seminar on video thanks to The 88, which was one of the event sponsors. The video can be found at:

http://www.the88sj.com/housingseminar.htm

This is an excellent video with the keynote speakers Sheila Bernus Dowd of Lookiloos.com and Quincy Virgilio of the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors (SCCAOR) providing lots of great information about purchasing a home. The topics include how to learn more about various neighborhoods to using the internet to maximize your home search. The seminar also touches upon the home buying process including how to select the right real estate agent and how to secure financing. Whether you are just starting the home buying process or have been looking for several months now, this is definitely a worthwhile video to watch. Lots of fantastic and useful information!

The “Off The Fence” housing seminar is a presentation by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG), Santa Clara County Association of Realtors (SCCAOR), and the Greenbelt Alliance.

The long anticipated opening of Safeway’s “The Market” located at the retail level of The 88 is scheduled for its grand opening on Friday, August 28. The Market is a smaller, upscale neighborhood version of Safeway that will occupy 24,000 square feet of retail space at the new condominium highrise. The store is half the size of normal Safeway stores but still be a full-service grocery store. The Market format focuses on providing customers with fresh produce, edited product selection, its Signature Cafe, and an extensive selection of prepared foods. The “grab-n-go” meals are perfect for today’s busy consumers and a perfect, easy stop for nearby residents. The Market is designed for the urban lifestyle conveniently located on the corner of San Fernando and Second Streets right here in downtown San Jose.

“The Market” by Safeway
100 S. 2nd Street
Downtown San Jose

Grand Opening: Friday, August 28

Visit safeway.com/themarket to sign up for email savings, promotions, and special events.

This is just an unpleasant sign of the times when we have to mention that VTA is planning on increasing fares but reducing both bus and light rail service. Just last week, I blogged about meetings for the proposed BART expansion to the South Bay as well as a on seminar on buying real estate with a sustainable lifestyle in mind, e.g. using public transportation. But as most of realize, the economy has been hurting and transit agencies all over are losing on much needed public funds. Combine this with the decrease in revenues by the transit agencies and no wonder VTA is proposing fare increases and service reductions. But how are we supposed to live a sustainable lifestyle when either (A) we can’t afford public transportation or (B) there isn’t sufficient public transportation to justify relying on it as a regular mode of transportation?

According to VTA, sales tax receipts fell 21% in the most recent fiscal quarter which is an estimated loss of $5.8 million. Yikes! Last month, the VTA Board of Directors adopted the budget for the upcoming fiscal years which included fare increases scheduled for January 2010. Due to the increasing loss of revenues, the VTA Board of Directors will propose speeding up the fare increase so that it starts as soon as October. Moreover, VTA will be holding public meetings between August 10-13 to discuss the proposed service reduction plans for several bus lines and light rail routes.

If we really wanted a thriving downtown chock full of residents who subscribe to a sustainable lifestyle, we need to have reliable, affordable public transportation. Most Californians are raised in a car culture and can’t imagine living without a car. But if we really are striving to reduce our dependence on oil and live green, we need public transportation to take us where we need to go.

VTA Board of Directors Meeting
August 6 at 5:30pm
Board of Supervisors’ Chambers
County Government Center
70 W. Hedding Street
Downtown San Jose

Visit the VTA website for more information on the proposed service reduction public meetings.

For questions, please call (408) 321-2300.

One of the regions top events enters its 20th year as the AT&T San Jose Jazz Festival kicks off this weekend from August 7-9 in downtown San Jose. The three days of music and fun celebrates one of the most popular and diverse musical styles around. Nine stages throughout downtown San Jose will host over 100 concerts featuring the sounds of traditional jazz, salsa, Latin jazz, Straight Ahead, Blues, Swing, R&B, Hip Hop, Smooth, Fusion, and more. Performers scheduled for the Jazz Festival include Marcus Shelby, Denise Donatelli, Buster Williams, SambaDa, and Spanish Harlem Orchestra. Over 1000 performers and crowds exceeding 100,000 are expected during the course of the three-day music festival.

The San Jose Jazz Festival is a fantastic family event which includes a Jazz Brunch, a youth stage featuring the best young performers around, jam sessions, and a kids area. Your Jazz Festival ticket also gives you admission to the Tech Museum. The San Jose Jazz Festival is produced by San Jose Jazz, a non-profit organization designed to promote live music in the Silicon Valley and provide music education programs to the regions youth.

AT&T San Jose Jazz Festival
August 7-9
9 Stages (4 indoor, 5 outdoor) throughout downtown San Jose
Visit the AT&T San Jose Jazz Festival site to find stage locations.

For a schedule of performers and performances, please visit the AT&T San Jose Jazz Festival site.

Tickets:
One day: $15 ($10 on Friday)
Two days: $20
Three days: $30

Festival packages and VIP tickets also available. To purchase tickets, visit the AT&T San Jose Jazz Festival site.