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Changes on The Ave: Willow Glen’s Lincoln Avenue

The shops on Lincoln Avenue have never been flashy, and in contrast to Santana Row and even downtown Los Gatos it is quite tame. The residents of Willow Glen are proud and protective of their strip and can be quite vigilant when it comes to new development because of the fear of change.

However, lately there have been a lot of businesses on the Ave that have not been able to survive, especially in this economic downturn. I was surprised to hear that two businesses recently have thrown in the towel and will close: Vin Santo Ristorante and Willow Glen Liquors. I am especially saddened to hear Vin Santo is closing because this is where my husband proposed to me.

Willow Glen Liquors who is looking to stay in business but relocate off Lincoln, always has a wonderful selection of wines and as my personal mission to support local retailers, I buy my wines here instead of the BevMo directly across the street.

The Ave is all abuzz this holiday season with holiday shoppers and faithful local residents supporting Willow Glen businesses, but what is going to happen once this flurry of shopping is over, when the decorations are boxed up and the excitement of Christmas is over?

Here are the plans.

Dec.22.2008 [ Filed under: San Jose ] 3 Comments »

High Density Developments in the Bay Area

High density developments are becoming the wave of the future. Perhaps the most prominent "high density" development in the Bay Area is Santana Row with trendy shops & exclusive restaurants, and contemporary residential lofts tantalizing the progressive bay area resident to be a part of this movement.

This has become desirable for many bay area residents that want to have entertainment, shopping and a social outlet waiting just outside their front door. Many downtown businesses sense the high demand of residential-retail zoning, which is alluring many business districts to take advantage of this commercial high density epidemic.

The public concern for high density zoning is that it will bring unmanageable traffic and cars and high taxes and noise to the community. On the flip side, some residents have voiced excitement and acceptance that it will bring money to the city, restaurants and better quality entertainment. Moreover, it will lead to higher economic activity and productivity, save tax dollars, and increase property value. As worrisome or exciting as it may be to the community, there is hardly an area untouched by this new wave of high density development; San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Campbell, Los Gatos and even Willow Glen are all conforming to this new way of life.

An example of high density development that has majority of public acceptance is Sunnyvale Town Center’s new urban development project. It has been underway for some time but the ultimate outcome will be 991,000 square feet of retail space, 315,000 square feet of office space and 292 ownership housing units. There will be a 14-screen movie theater and a 200 room hotel located at Murphy and McKinley Avenues. The 184-acres project encompasses a large block bounded by Mathilda, Washington, Sunnyvale and Iowa Avenues, known as the Town Center Mall. The shops are planned to start opening in early 2009. The vision of this new development is for a lively people-friendly place for shopping, working, living and entertainment.

Sunnyvale residents are actually quite pleased with the new development, as it will bring in revenue for the city, increase visibility to the area, bring in restaurants, and retail and ultimately boost their home values. Some residents of other neighborhoods are not quite as pleased.

Jul.02.2008 [ Filed under: San Jose, Santana Row, Sunnyvale ] 2 Comments »

Willow Glen Neighborhood Mixer

Please join our own Sara Greenwood at the Grapevine in Willow Glen on Wednesday, July 9th at 6pm.

She’s hosting a neighborhood mixer in her home town with plenty of food, wine and non-alcoholic beverages too. For more information and details on the event, please visit her page on Willow Glen 2.0.

Jul.02.2008 [ Filed under: San Jose ] Comment Here »

Vision North San Jose Gets Boost

Just last March, redevelopment plan for North San Jose was stuck — tangled in a lawsuit by neighboring cities Santa Clara and Milpitas over traffic flow.

Image of Vision San Jose

The plantiffs contended that the proposed redevelopment would create population growth and traffic problems that would spill over into neighboring cities as well as I-880.

How quickly things change.

Feb.13.2007 [ Filed under: Bay Area Info, San Jose, Silicon Valley News ] Comment Here »