One of the problems with redevelopment is what to do with the low-income or homeless in the urban neighborhoods that suddenly get a makeover. Essentially, the poor and homeless get priced out or moved out, as the case may be, by people that can afford the nicer, newer properties. The gentrification (some refer to it as urban gentrification) of St. James Park in downtown San Jose was the topic of Joshua Molina’s San Jose Mercury article today. The article, found in The Valley section of the Mercury, discusses the crossroads that face the homeless who, for lack of a better term, hang out at St. James Park. With Barry Swenson Builders soon to be embarking on a luxury condominium project, Park View Towers, directly across from St. James Park, the issue will become even more prevelant. The park view these luxury condo owners will want undoubtedly will not include any homeless in St. James Park.

But what happens when the homeless get moved out of St. James Park? This is not just a problem for St. James Park. Its an issue for other parts of Silicon Valley and throughout the country. How do we solve this issue?