Google village prep work starts this year

SAN JOSE >> Google is expected to begin work this year to prepare the huge site where the tech titan is planning a game-changing new transit-oriented neighborhood on the western edges of downtown San Jose.

The mixed-use village is expected to include office buildings, homes, restaurants, shops, hotel rooms, open spaces, cultural centers and entertainment hubs and would sprout near the Diridon train station and SAP Center.

“We're now working on concept plans for the site preparation and infrastructure improvements needed to support the future development of the project,” Sheela Jivan, Google's director of real estate development, San Jose, said in comments emailed to this news organization.

Plenty of work must be started and completed to prepare the locations and install or upgrade infrastructure before construction can even begin on the actual office buildings and other structures for Google's transit village.

The transit-oriented development, Downtown West, has won all the necessary development approvals from the San Jose City Council.

“A project of this size requires extensive planning,” Jivan said. “Since Downtown West's approval last year, we've been focused on assembling our project team.”

Google is slated to begin the infrastructure and site preparation this year, according to development experts familiar with the search giant's plans.

The start of site preparation would be a welcome turn of events as Downtown West is expected to be one of the most consequential projects built in San Jose.

The transit village is poised to provide downtown San Jose with a major economic boost. Google intends to employ up to 25,000 workers within the Downtown West footprint.

Downtown West also will feature thousands of homes, hundreds of which will be affordable.