Plans indicate changes for mega village
Revisions show a move toward a more urban vibe for the north San Jose project
SAN JOSE » A proposed north San Jose mega village of offices, theaters, retail and homes has been revised to create a pedestrian friendly, nature- oriented complex with an urban feel that is envisioned as a Bay Area destination where thousands could work.
The huge village that’s being proposed in north San Jose would contain one million square feet of offices, 2,000 homes, 320,000 square feet of retail, a movie complex, an amphitheater and a 150-room hotel, according to preliminary plans submitted by developer SiliconSage Builders.
“This is going to be a mega village,” said Sanjeev Acharya, chief executive officer with Sunnyvale- based SiliconSage Builders. “The idea is to create a place where people can come and spend half a day.”
With a variety of buildings, along with plazas, park areas and open spaces, as well as connections to the adjacent Coyote Creek, the development is designed to appeal to an array of interests.
“People can live, work, eat, play and experience nature” in the project, which would be located at Montague Expressway and Seely Avenue, according to the preliminary plans from SiliconSage.
The buildings in the development would be built to create an urban feel.
Plus, the village site is close to the location of the Milpitas BART station as well the light rail lines on North First Street. The developers also intend to provide shuttles to the nearby rail lines.
“The project is designed with the pedestrian in mind,” according to the preliminary proposal submitted to San Jose city planners.
The development would rise on 22.6 acres that now consists of agricultural and vacant land.
“We are in contract to buy the two parcels for the project,” Acharya said.
The project is somewhat scaled back in size from the original plans for a 31- acre development with 3,000 homes and 500,000 square feet of retai l. With fewer homes and less retail on less acreage, the development will be more compact. That, in turn will give it more of an urban village look and feel.
Potentially 5,000 people could work in the development’s office buildings, once they were all built.
The project also would include a Coyote Creek Park with an observation deck, workout stations and terraces; a Central Park with the amphitheater, a retail plaza, garden dining and a garden forest; private gardens and community spaces; as well as more amenities associated with the offices and the hotel.
“We are providing a variety of common open spaces totaling approximately five acres,” according to the preliminary plans. “This includes a publicly accessible privately owned twoacre park, over two acres of outdoor retail plazas and a variety of trail improvements along Coyote Creek.”
These kind of 24/ 7 amenities aren’t available in north San Jose at present, Acharya said. For that reason, the developers believe the complex can draw from a wide region.
“We want this to be a destination for the Bay Area,” Acharya said.