North San Jose Redevelopment Study, 2007
Designed as Solomon ETC, 2007
John Ellis Urban Designer with Daniel Solomon, Josie Ogg, Kimberly Perette, Christopher Pizzi.
The study was commissioned by the San Jose Redevelopment Agency to explore how the existing low density North San Jose corridor could be re-planned to accommodate higher density mixed-use development taking advantage of the Light Rail line along North First Street and the need for more housing. The intent was to create a sustainable urban core in place of sprawl as a model for other suburban business parks.
Redevelopment Agencies in California were abolished in 2012 as a budget cutting effort, eliminating one of the most successful methods of funding affordable housing through tax increment funding.
A vision for how the central core of North San Jose could be developed as a higher density mixed-use district, aligned along the Light Rail line on North First Street.
The Central Core build-out with the main retail street perpendicular to North First Street.
The main retail street parallel to North First Street.
The two options for the location of a retail street to support the central core district.
Diagrams showing the relationship between floor area and parking ratios.
Incremental transformation of suburban buildings into a more urban pattern by holding the street walls, using remote parking structures and raising the density.
An example of new infill development adhering to the proposed urban design guidelines.
