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Page 36 38 40 4 44 46 Promote Downtown Intensify Neighborhoods Connect the Anchors Grow the Garden City Enhance Parks and Open Spaces Promote Sustainability

3. DOWNTOWN INITIATIVES Establish a Guiding Framework. The following Initiatives are based on the existing assets the unique qualities of Downtown San Jose identified in the previous chapter that contribute to a high quality public realm. The Initiatives are a series of topical, over-arching strategies that are based on protection and enhancement of the city s assets. The Initiatives provide a point of reference and guiding framework for the specific projects listed in this plan, and are intended to inform future improvements proposed to Downtown San Jose s streets and open space. The theme of each Initiative encompasses a variety of possible project opportunities geared to specific public realm improvement goals. As a guiding framework based on what is specific to Downtown San Jose, the Initiatives should remain relevant for years to come. 35

images of Downtown -3 Promote Downtown Engage the public realm to express and celebrate the city s identity as a geographic and cultural hub of Silicon Valley. As the Bay Area comes to be more commonly understood as a single metropolis, Downtown San Jose s qualities that are specific to its location in the Bay Area and its history of development if protected can ensure its unique identity in the region and allow it to compete with other Bay edge cities. Its special qualities must be appreciated and thoughtfully cultivated to be the creative urban center of Silicon Valley. Capitalize on opportunities in the public realm to express and celebrate the city s identity, its material resources, and cultural activity, including existing and potential relationships with local arts organizations and Silicon Valley. Possible organizations for partnerships with and to support include: 3 City of San Jose Santa Clara County Valley Transportation Authority Metropolitan Transportation Commission San Jose Valley Water District SPUR San Jose Team San Jose San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley Creates San Jose State University San Jose Museum of Art St. James Association Park Conservancies Tech Museum of Innovation Children s Discovery Museum 36 CHAPTER 3 Downtown Initiatives Promote Downtown

MENLO PARK PALO ALTO MOUNTAIN VIEW DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE CHAPTER 3 Downtown Initiatives Promote Downtown 37

Little Italy San Pedro Square Circle of Palms Plaza / Museum of Art 3 Intensify Neighborhoods Enhance the specific cultural and material qualities of each neighborhood. Contributing features and positive aspects of each neighborhood should be identified, sustained and complimented with PBID projects. PBID projects and city planning initiatives should endeavor to provide compatible improvements and policy that work with special attention to bike and pedestrian access to tie the neighborhoods together, while maintaining each neighborhood s unique quality. Build neighborhood activity and character by capitalizing on local assets to create new gathering spaces and amenities to draw people into the public realm and enhance pedestrian connectivity. Both on-going horticultural and art programs have the potential to be curated and coordinated to be unique to their immediate neighborhood as well as contribute to the District s identity. Possible organizations for partnerships with and to support include: City of San Jose SPUR San Jose San Jose State University Communiversity San Jose Veggielution Village Harvest 3 38 CHAPTER 3 Downtown Initiatives Intensify Neighborhoods

87 ALMADEN BLVD 4TH ST. SANTA CLARA ST. LIGHTSTON ST. ALMADEN BLVD. NOTRE DAME ST. ALMADEN AVE. SAN PEDRO ST. MARKET ST. ST ST. ND ST. 3RD ST. LITTLE ITALY SAINT JAMES ST. SAN PEDRO SQUARE SAINT JOHN ST. DIRIDON DISTRICT POST ST. HISTORIC DISTRICT SAN FERNANDO ST. PARK AVE. CONVENTION & CULTURAL DISTRICT CAMPUS QUARTER PASEO DE SAN ANTONIO SAN CARLOS ST. WOZ WAY VIOLA ST. BALBACH ST. SoFA DISTRICT SAN SALVADOR ST. WILLIAMS ST. 000 500 50 0 I-80 ST ST. N CHAPTER 3 Downtown Initiatives Intensify Neighborhoods 39

SAP Center South Market Street at Plaza de Cesar Chavez Paseo de San Antonio 3 Connect the Anchors Establish appealing, integrated pedestrian routes to cohere the District s energy centers and destinations, and activate the streets between them. Taking advantage of the existing landmarks in Downtown San Jose, establish a network of appealing, integrated pedestrian routes to join together the District s energy centers and destinations and activate the streets between them. Opportunities to develop threshold moments at various entries to Downtown should be considered to contribute to the visitors perceptions of Downtown as a District. Possible organizations for partnerships with and to support include: Valley Transit Authority City of San Jose Department of Transportation Pedicabs SPUR San Jose Team San Jose Zero Theaters, Arts Organizations San Jose Sharks Diridon Station 3 40 CHAPTER 3 Downtown Initiatives Connect the Anchors

3RD ST. ND ST. ST ST. MARKET ST. SAN PEDRO ST. ALMADEN AVE. NOTRE DAME ST. ALMADEN BLVD. 4TH ST. SAINT JAMES ST. Santa Clara Superior Court SAP Center SAINT JOHN ST. 87 San Pedro Market (BART) (BART) LIGHTSTON ST. POST ST. SAN FERNANDO ST. Museum of Art IMAX Dome Montgomery Theater A s Ballpark (planned for future) SANTA CLARA ST. City Hall (BART) Public Library The Pavilion PARK AVE. San Jose State University Camera Cinemas PASEO DE SAN ANTONIO Broadway Theater SAN CARLOS ST. Silicon Valley Symphony & California Theater WOZ WAY SAN SALVADOR ST. Children s Discovery T. S Museum VIOLA Zero Garage. CH ST BALBA ALMADEN BLVD WILLIAMS ST. 500 50 0 N ST ST. ANCHORS - ALL I-80 000 CHAPTER 3 Downtown Initiatives Connect the Anchors 4

Woz Way Woz Way South First Street 3 Grow the Garden City Promote and enhance the District s garden identity with projects that capitalize on the city s climate, horticultural resources, and open spaces. Promote and enhance the District s garden identity with projects that capitalize on the city s climate, horticultural resources, and open spaces. Key resources to capitalize on include the urban forest, downtown open space, parks and plazas, as well as the Downtown Association s horticultural program and manager. Increased street planting can be both in planters and in-ground; opportunities to for stormwater management detention and treatment of paving run-off should be considered in evaluation of in-ground planting areas. Some of Downtown San Jose s streets would benefit from more trees. Others suffer from the impact of existing trees that are in poor health or whose roots have damaged the surrounding sidewalk. By building and maintaining the District s urban forest by planting new trees and removing or replacing existing trees that are problematic the PBID enhances the character and comfort of its public realm. Possible organizations for partnerships with and to support include: Our City Forest San Jose Beautiful San Jose Downtown Residents Association Kawahara Nursery Devil Mountain Nursery 3 4 CHAPTER 3 Downtown Initiatives Grow the Garden City

4TH ST. 3RD ST. ND ST. ST ST. MARKET ST. SAN PEDRO ST. ALMADEN AVE. NOTRE DAME ST. ALMADEN BLVD. SAINT JAMES ST. SAINT JOHN ST. 87 CARLYLE ST. SANTA CLARA ST. LIGHTSTON ST. POST ST. SAN FERNANDO ST. PARK AVE. PASEO DE SAN ANTONIO SAN CARLOS ST. WOZ WAY SAN SALVADOR ST. VIOLA ST. H ST. C BALBA ALMADEN BLVD WILLIAMS ST. REED ST. ST ST. I-80 N CHAPTER 3 Downtown Initiatives 000 500 50 0 Grow the Garden City 43

Plaza de Cesar Chavez Circle of Palms Plaza, Downtown Ice Guadalupe River 3 Enhance Parks and Open Space Protect, enhance, and revitalize the existing public parks and plazas. While open space in San Jose s Downtown is ample, the parks appear underutilized and even, in parts, neglected. Opportunities to make new connections between open spaces and enhance existing should be capitalized on. The Downtown Association and PBID support initiatives to evaluate the existing parks for opportunities to add program and amenities to reinforce the open space value and identities as public destinations. Possible organizations for partnerships with and to support include: San Jose Parks Foundation Guadalupe River Park Conservancy 3 44 CHAPTER 3 Downtown Initiatives Enhance Parks and Open Space

87 ALMADEN BLVD 4TH ST. SANTA CLARA ST. LIGHTSTON ST. ALMADEN BLVD. NOTRE DAME ST. ALMADEN AVE. SAN PEDRO ST. MARKET ST. ST ST. ND ST. 3RD ST. SAINT JAMES ST. SAINT JOHN ST. POST ST. SAN FERNANDO ST. PARK AVE. PASEO DE SAN ANTONIO SAN CARLOS ST. WOZ WAY SAN SALVADOR ST. VIOLA ST. BALBACH ST. WILLIAMS ST. 000 500 50 0 I-80 ST ST. N CHAPTER 3 Downtown Initiatives Enhance Parks and Open Space 45

Guadalupe River Bike Share San Jose SubZero 3 Promote Sustainability Leverage new public realm projects to advance principles and practices of sustainability. Working toward a more sustainable environment is a constant process, and that effort is inspiring to witness. A good public realm shows commitment to sustainability by residents, businesses, and organizations responsible for maintaining a neighborhood. It also demonstrates potential for new strategies of sustainable place making. Promoting sustainability means observing a commitment to use minimal resources in all Street Life Plan projects, and expressing that value in planning, construction, and maintenance practices. The sustainability of a project involves the economic, social, and environmental systems necessary to implement and maintain it with minimal resources. The PBID endorses sustainability as a value and guiding principle for all public realm projects it pursues. Sustainability strategies for PBID projects include: RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES like solar and wind. SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIALS that are reused, reusable, or produced with low impact on the environment. STORMWATER TECHNIQUES that improve water quality and lessen impact on the city s storm infrastructure. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE PRACTICES that minimize energy use, waste, and emissions. WATER EFFICIENT PLANT SPECIES suited to the District s environment. Possible organizations for partnerships with and to support include: 3 City of San Jose Environmental Services Department Santa Clara Valley Water District San Jose Water Company Republic Services 46 CHAPTER 3 Downtown Initiatives Promote Sustainability