Some of us living near The Alameda close to Shasta are not at all interested in Reed’s newest folly, a baseball stadium with no conceived plan. Also, one of our residents who is a real estate attorney questions the legality of such a land swap.
Property values do not rise with a baseball stadium, they drop. Also, as I have read from other posts, there is a significant amoung Giants fans who live in San Jose, and may not travel to games in SF when they can watch major leagues baseball in San Jose. The Giants have more than territorial rights at stake.
There is also the issues of traffic and parking. Reed lives in the hills, and does not have to worry about such things, and thus, he is uninterested in our parking and traffic worries.
Indeed some other posters are also not very charitable, because they do not live in our neighborhood. How comforting.
We have three branches of government at all levels, so we can find deaf hears or there, but the only audience this San Jose stadium may find in the next several years is a courtroom audience and 12 peers.
First of all, while some may not want a ballpark…GUESS WHAT, SOME DO! Especially those new residents of downtown condos, the neighborhoods just west of Diridon Station to name a few. Like AT&T Park in SF/South Beach, an urban ballpark at Diridon South fits perfectly with the surrounding urban fabric.
Second. Guess what else; new urban ballparks and their surrounding residential developments are highly sought after…PROPERTY VALUES RISE! They don’t drop! Where in the hell did you get that!?
Third. If you are a San Jose resident, you should be utterly ashamed of yourself for championing the Giants territorial rights to our city. And you present no proof or facts whatsoever of more Giants fans living in SJ than A’s fans. Look, it’s not about being a fan of the A’s or Giants. It’s about a major American city having the freedom to pursue Major League Baseball. Again, your stance is shameful!
Traffic and parking? Uh, ever heard of HP Pavilion? Or how about plans for a major transit center/high-speed rail at Diridon Station? Hate to break this to yah, but the Rosegarden is located a mile west of a major American downtown…THIS ISN’T HOLLISTER PAL! Besides, there are residents of SHPA that are working with the city to make the ballpark right for everyone (you’re obviously not part of that group).
Bottom line: While some don’t want a ballpark, many do. The world of San Jose luckily does not revolve around the self centered view and selfishness of #1.
To those in SHP, Willow Glenn and other surrounding area’s working with the city on the ballpark plan, thank you for not sharing the views of “I don’t want a baseball stadium.”
A whole lot of NIMBY-ism going around. San Jose is looking to put a stadium amidst an industrial area which already has an arena and a train station set to become a major transit hub. The idea that a baseball stadium alone would alter the landscape of Shasta-Hanchett (which is honestly not even that close) is simply a load of crap. I guess the current residents prefer concrete and dirt lots (see Ohlone mixed use), because those attract a safer crowd than baseball games.
The arguments from both posters #1 and #2 about fan base are silly.
Unless I missed the question on my Social Security application or the Census Taker in my neighborhood, citizens do not have to DECLARE ALLEGIANCE to baseball teams. Who is a ‘fan’ of the Giants and A’s changes daily based on the news, success in playoffs, etc. No matter how much you love your team and hate the Dodgers.
And second—we all know damned well that as soon as a baseball team lands in a neighborhood, a new fanbase appears. It just does. It just will.
Now everyone lighten up before the press decides the “A” in “San Jose A’s” stands for something other than Athletics.
The best thing that ever happened to this neighborhood was Downtown revitalization and the Arena. Before that most of the houses in that area were not kept up. People bought in this neighborhood because it was affordable since it was up and coming
When you look at Seattle and Portland where neighborhoods are just outside the core of downtown they are great. they get all the benefits of proximity to the arts, dining, sports, jobs however they still get a house with a yard. They knew when they bought the house that is was not Santa Teresa or Berryessa. They made a trade off when they bought so they need to accept responsibility for their home purchase.
NT,
#5 pulled it out of the same toilet as #6. By the way, nice post. And you’re right: SHP is nearly a mile west of Diridon South/HP Pavilion. That’s one hell of a backyard!
#1,#2,#3
Why couldn’t you continue discussion of SJ A’s baseball stadius five columns down in section “San Jose Wants the A’s” instead of “Rants and Raves” that lists no subject heading??
Without a single urban “youth” hostel I would not consider San Jose a “City”, (not even if it’s the largest in Northern California),rather it’s a Town. Certainly not “World Class”! Size doesn’t matter, but citizen outlook and self-identity which seem to be lacking.
pgp3
#2 spoke of “Especially those new residents of downtown condos,” You mean all 23 of them? C’mon, the new downtown condos are seriously empty because they have not accepted market reality in their pricing. The 88 drops its prices 8%-12% in a market that has experienced a 40% drop…and they wonder why the units don’t sell. Well, duh!
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that Axis and The 88 have the same marketing company. The 88 finally admitted its first resident. They held up getting their “white paper” (which is required before anybody can move in) because the developer has to pay the association dues for all the unsold residences, which is, like, 95% of them, or so. If they continue to have few sales, they’ll then move to renting them, which will demolish the value (if there ever was one) of the owner-occupied units.
#4—Holy one trick pony, Batman, PGP3 awakens again to rant about a youth hostel. Yo, if you want one so bad, open one up.
#5, you’re right, but you need to enroll in bonehead english at your nearest adult ed. center. “subsitity”?????
#6—S-Jay already has all but #1 and #4 on your list.
#7—it’s easy to label people NIMBYs when its not your hood that is affected. But, you’re right. SHP & WG have to have the highest % of NIMBYS in S-Jay…maybe anywhere.
I am not a baseball fan, but I’d love to see any MLB team here in S-Jay. However, the plans I have seen seem to have inadequate parking for the size of the proposed stadium. S-Jay ain’t the Northeast. People still don’t do public transit here as they do there, nor will they for a generation or two, at least.
But isn’t it all moot? The Giants are unlikely to give up their territorial rights, not even if Larry Stone gets down on his hands and knees to beg them to do so. So, I guess Larry needs to get down on his knees to The Commish.
10: “it’s easy to label people NIMBYs when its not your hood that is affected.”
I labeled them as such because this is quite a stretch. Not only are they not in the immediate vicinity, but they would have to stop multiple projects to preserve the status quo of parking lots and cyclone fences in that area. I would empathize more if Victorians were bulldozed the make way for a stadium, but this is anything but.
I’m not a baseball fan, either. I love sports and grew up with baseball, but I quickly realized that it’s not a very exciting game. However, I know that many in SJ do still love it and I hope this city becomes a place that appeals to everyone, not just me.
I am currently moving to the other side of downtown specifically for the type of atmosphere described by #8: walkable neighborhood but also a classic house with a yard. It’s the best of both worlds. I can only assume that proximity to activities will boost these people’s home values like proximity to jobs. Convenience is a positive, at least in my eyes.
A new stadium will be another anchor to build a self-supporting downtown. When you look at the area’s revitalization since the ‘70s, it is because of an influx of people looking for activity beyond drugs and prostitution. The notion that baseball brings society’s ills to your doorstep is like something out of Reefer Madness. I honestly predict it to be the opposite, at least from the testimony I saw at the city council meeting a few weeks back. Little Leaguers and their parents will not be the downfall of San Jose.
Of the 800 units of condos built in downtown; only about 60 have sold. of those 1/4 are behind or have forclosure started. all of the others aren’t worth what they paid for them!
So which of the 60 victims of san jose’s joke of a downtown dream are going to pay for a season ticket? And where will the other 10,000 season tickets holders come from?
The the 10,000 season tickets holders can also split the subsitity to the team as well!
To the Ballpark vs. NIMBYs: I attended the most recent City Council meeting where I was possibly the only “citizen” joining Mulcahy, Hammer, and the indefatigable taxman-gone-pitcher Stone (BOOOO!!).
Councilman Liccardo and his counterparts at RDA are overlooking us D3 residents in their list of neighborhoods to “console” in town hall therapy sessions, part of their A’s-to-SJ steps. I suggest three things:
1) Messrs. Reed, Oliverio, and Liccardo seek out supportive NAGs like ours to bolster their efforts;
2) Continue to preach the long-term benefits of MLB + SJ to Shasta-Hanchett (how many of them have Sharks season tickets?);
3) And not let the oft-overlooked issue of parking slip by and blind-side them down the road.
If Bud Selig & MLB give SJ the proverbial good finger while giving SF another, I would hate to see this turn into the next mealy Warm Springs/NUMMI debacle. Savvy citizens should not intentionally walk this cash- and SJ-spirit-boon over side-effect issues like congestion on The Alameda (where, anecdotally, there seems to be more traffic on Cinco de Mayo than any game-night, let alone freeway offramp closures).
Keep the faith, keep communicating, and keep exorbitant NIMBY-pleasing costs out of this game plan. If Rose Herrera and Mayor Reed can come up with baseball-related zingers, I want my stab: We have runners on first and second, let’s load the bases for the grand slam.
1) With all due respect to SHP residents who DO support MLB to San Jose, the world of San Jose does not revolve around Shasta Hanchett Park. Personally, I don’t think a ballpark will have a negative or positive affect on that area a mile west of the site.
2) Baseball fans won’t park a mile west in their beautiful neighborhood; that would be insane! Unless they love to walk. They’ll either a) park in the downtown core b) take light-rail or Caltrain to a game (later BART and high-speed rail) or c) use 880 via Coleman and the future Autumn Parkway. The same pattern currently exists for Sharks games/HP Pavilion events.
As Tom McEnery once said, some people think a nuclear reactor is going in at that site, not a family entertainment center.
So we have a council member doing a survey in order to get public input over the looming fiscal crisis, while Reed is engaged with a secret deal with Wolff that would make RG blush. Of course in this case, we cannot depend on the DA to investigate Chuck a few weeks before the election. What did someone say today about Reed? Undemocratic? Not our Mayor, but Chuck, I think it is time that you stop pretending to be Dick Cheney, YOU ARE CHENEY!
#15,
This isn’t about leveling (as Nam Turk alluded to earlier) Victorian homes or buildings in the likes of Hotel St. Claire/De Anza Hotel/Bank of America building. It’s about transforming a decrepit piece of downtown property into a gem of a Major League ballpark. Just because a decrepit structure is old doesn’t mean it’s historic. I guess you love cyclone fences and empty lots.
#16
If this is a “secret deal” with Lew Wolff, why are we talking about it? Some secret! Chuck Reed = Dick Cheney? Shaking head very, very slowly.
Got news for yah! The decision to move the A’s to San Jose won’t be the Giants; it will be Major League Baseball’s through their Blue Ribbon Committee. If the Committee finds, as they should, that the A’s in San Jose will be best overall for MLB (including the Giants), those rights will fall like Rome. Don’t worry, the Giants will get their pound of flesh out of the deal.
And for the record, while there are NIMBY’s in SHP and WG, there are also supporters of San Jose’s ballpark efforts.
“Though Michael Martin has not been caught up in recent revelations about lawmakers expenses — reimbursements for chandeliers, moat cleaning and mortgage payments have outraged taxpayers — he was blamed for creating a climate in which such excesses were allowed”
Reed has a moat at the Compound which is cleaned regularly and chandeliers. He always pays for these things out his own pocket!
I work with City Movers LLC and have moved one of the 60 residence in to the new downtown area:) I think that the new stadium will provide new life and growth to the town, San Jose is one of the top destinations as far as job relocation goes, I know it doesn’t feel like it, but we are better off than allot of the country. Another thing to keep in mind is that this recession is not permanent, even the Great Depression had an end, and this recession is suppose to end next year ( So they say) but no matter the time, it will end someday and a ballpark downtown will make San Jose a more desirable place to move to.
No way, dudes. I have moved furniture all over the South Bay, and I can do better than City Movers. I moved things in five days and that was longer than I bothered the people in Modesto, though I want to Scott P’s trial, and Cheney, well there are 13 letters in 9/11. FIVE DAYS FOR MOVING BECAUSE I AM THE KING OF FURNITURE INSTALLING, THE KING!!!!
You’re spot-on about the parking issue. I live in a neighborhood directly impacted by parking overflow from the Tank.
In the first Council meeting where the public aired their complaint-laundry and some lauds, the inevitable “Alameda beautification” proposition came up.
“Restore the Alameda to the heyday of ‘the Beautiful Way’; add pedestrian improvements; reduce the lanes to 2; and so on”, they carried. I wonder how those neighbors feel about federal and state pork projects…
S.H. has the potential to turn SJ the way of Warm Springs, and temptation may be to appease a very vocal minority by spending $, rather than convincing them of the long-term benefits of a ballpark.
I think (dare I use that “think” word in situations regarding development) the parking issue should be addressed in the downtown core, just as you imply.
Design a parking/pedestrian strategy that encourages traffic away from Delmas and S.H. neighborhoods, perhaps?
And if I were to consider starting another business downtown, I would snag that Swenson-owned wasteland at St. John/Notre Dame streets to build a public parking garage. I don’t like paying $35 to park on a dilapidated pier when I attend Giants games, but I do.
Actually any construction near an historic building requires, by CEQA, a full impact study. Tony just wants us to get him a ballpark without any questions or concerns. Democracy makes him uncomfortable.
#18 Native,
You’re the one being ignorant! I’ve been through Diridon South many times and don’t see anything worthy of being historic (other than the old Stephens Meat Sign of course). And no, the old KNTV studio’s or Patty’s Inn doesn’t count. Again, just because a structure is old (and more worthy of a brownfield) doesn’t mean it’s historic.
#19,
If you knew anything and spoke from your mouth (instead of your…), you’d realize that a full Environmental Impact Report has already been done for the ballpark site. And no, no beer belly on this guy.
#23,
“Design a parking/pedestrian strategy that encourages traffic away from Delmas and S.H. neighborhoods, perhaps?” Bingo! It’s called Light-Rail, Caltrain, future BART/High-speed rail, future Autumn Parkway from Coleman/880, parking in the downtown core. Much of this already occurs for Sharks games and 20,000 patron events at HP Pavilion. Ever wonder how thousands can attend the Jazz Festival downtown without destroying W.G. or S.H.?
And again, for the record, not all residents living around the downtown oppose a ballpark.
Santa Clara County is not alone. It has just been reported that an officer Damon Smith (of some San Diego County police dept.) secretly taped interviews of suspects, but never truned them over to anyone. So now it’s likely that a bunch of guilty criminals will go free. Great!
Autumn Parkway will be nowhere near Pellier Park. In fact, Autumn Parkway will complete the Guadalupe River Park north of HP Pavilion. The ballpark, and other improvements in Diridon/Arena, will also complete the final leg of Los Gatos Creek Park to Guadalupe. Yet some would prefer 75-year old rat-infested buildings, along with vacant lots and cyclone fences to this?
Amazingly, to very little local news, SJC’s Terminal A recently opened new ticket lobbies on the first floor. This is a huge improvement over the former ticketing lobby on the 2nd floor.
But the most shameful part of this, aside from no Merc coverage at all, is that the NBC11 website posts some stock photo of some other airport terminal with the Terminal A story. It clearly is not either Terminal A or C. Could drive the 2 miles to the airport to check it out? Jeesh!
24 – I won’t waste much time trying to inform you, but… Just because you didn’t see anything that you deemed worthy of being historic doesn’t mean there is nothing historic. Unless you are a qualified historian who is trained to evaluate buildings (and clearly you are not) your opinion is worthless. There is specific criteria that is used in making these determinations.
The only thing you stated that is even close to having some accuracy to it is that “just because a structure is old… doesn’t mean it’s historic.” But, there is a lot more to a historic building than just age. If you bothered to do a little research you would know that.
You are also no expert when it comes to CEQA. The initial EIR will at least need a supplement if any historic buildings are to be demolished.
So, if your ballpark blindness is an indication of what the rest of us have to look forward in this discussion, it’s gonna be a long season.
That “Swenson-owned wasteland” is still slated for big development, including realignment of Julian Street. Parking will be addressed there along with the future marketplace. They’re just more components which make San Jose sweeter for the A’s.
Regarding historic buildings in the way, there are just a few as the footprint will extend just beyond Montgomery/San Fernando. Perhaps there could be concessions by the A’s to move any structures of historic value. For a couple buildings, that seems like pennies in the grand scheme of things.
#30, JMO,
Just got VHS “The Pink Panther Strikes Again”. After watching this silliness found dialogue lot smarter than your ramblings. What does SD Officer Smith have to do with SJ.
Why should I spend any time and money to open youth hostel in San Jose, your town? I already tried at 211 S. 11th. Didn’t get any help for zoning change from Green V.
Am much too busy here in Surf City. We need another hostel. Got too many guests from Sillicon Valley enjoying beaches, surf, parks, cool weather and no other inexpensive weekend places to stay.
Couple of months ago drove around DT San Jose after the useless planning session, where they talked future growth, specifically housing placement, with no regard about highways, businesses, public transport, infrastructure. Not one word about tourism. What a waste of everyone’s time. PO was in attendance but split before I could talk to him. After enjoying City Hall’s exhibit of my SJSU athletes’ I found nighttime San Jose to be quite attractive. If I were from further away wouldn’t mind staying in town, but there are no clean, safe, friendly yet affordable places to stay in town.
Please, denigrating blog responders for misspelling just shows your personality.
#5’s arguments made more sense than many of your postings.
Stick to logic (if you have any) rather than personalities (as I’m doing now).
I keep telling you I’m a one trick pony. Any other reason than my #1 hobby to participate on this blog? You could use a few more tricks yourself.
By the way, did they ever fix your potholes after the rainy season ended?
So long.
pgp3
I’m not a huge baseball fan but, I think it would be kewl to have a stadium. It could be used for other things as well like concerts and festivals ect..
If you knew about anything other than youth hostels, you’d get the connection between San Diego cops withholding evidence and Santa Clara D.A.‘s withholding evidence.
Some of us living near The Alameda close to Shasta are not at all interested in Reed’s newest folly, a baseball stadium with no conceived plan. Also, one of our residents who is a real estate attorney questions the legality of such a land swap.
Property values do not rise with a baseball stadium, they drop. Also, as I have read from other posts, there is a significant amoung Giants fans who live in San Jose, and may not travel to games in SF when they can watch major leagues baseball in San Jose. The Giants have more than territorial rights at stake.
There is also the issues of traffic and parking. Reed lives in the hills, and does not have to worry about such things, and thus, he is uninterested in our parking and traffic worries.
Indeed some other posters are also not very charitable, because they do not live in our neighborhood. How comforting.
We have three branches of government at all levels, so we can find deaf hears or there, but the only audience this San Jose stadium may find in the next several years is a courtroom audience and 12 peers.
#1,
Just plain idiocy in its purest form.
First of all, while some may not want a ballpark…GUESS WHAT, SOME DO! Especially those new residents of downtown condos, the neighborhoods just west of Diridon Station to name a few. Like AT&T Park in SF/South Beach, an urban ballpark at Diridon South fits perfectly with the surrounding urban fabric.
Second. Guess what else; new urban ballparks and their surrounding residential developments are highly sought after…PROPERTY VALUES RISE! They don’t drop! Where in the hell did you get that!?
Third. If you are a San Jose resident, you should be utterly ashamed of yourself for championing the Giants territorial rights to our city. And you present no proof or facts whatsoever of more Giants fans living in SJ than A’s fans. Look, it’s not about being a fan of the A’s or Giants. It’s about a major American city having the freedom to pursue Major League Baseball. Again, your stance is shameful!
Traffic and parking? Uh, ever heard of HP Pavilion? Or how about plans for a major transit center/high-speed rail at Diridon Station? Hate to break this to yah, but the Rosegarden is located a mile west of a major American downtown…THIS ISN’T HOLLISTER PAL! Besides, there are residents of SHPA that are working with the city to make the ballpark right for everyone (you’re obviously not part of that group).
Bottom line: While some don’t want a ballpark, many do. The world of San Jose luckily does not revolve around the self centered view and selfishness of #1.
To those in SHP, Willow Glenn and other surrounding area’s working with the city on the ballpark plan, thank you for not sharing the views of “I don’t want a baseball stadium.”
So carrying #2’s logic to the max, San Jose needs
1. High Crime rate
2. Low achieving schools
3. Slums
4. Humid weather
5. Broken courts, urban corruption
6 Poor roads
San Jose needs to grow up the major leagues of America’s Urban Environment. Teams and urban blight!!
A whole lot of NIMBY-ism going around. San Jose is looking to put a stadium amidst an industrial area which already has an arena and a train station set to become a major transit hub. The idea that a baseball stadium alone would alter the landscape of Shasta-Hanchett (which is honestly not even that close) is simply a load of crap. I guess the current residents prefer concrete and dirt lots (see Ohlone mixed use), because those attract a safer crowd than baseball games.
5: From which toilet did you pull these numbers?
The arguments from both posters #1 and #2 about fan base are silly.
Unless I missed the question on my Social Security application or the Census Taker in my neighborhood, citizens do not have to DECLARE ALLEGIANCE to baseball teams. Who is a ‘fan’ of the Giants and A’s changes daily based on the news, success in playoffs, etc. No matter how much you love your team and hate the Dodgers.
And second—we all know damned well that as soon as a baseball team lands in a neighborhood, a new fanbase appears. It just does. It just will.
Now everyone lighten up before the press decides the “A” in “San Jose A’s” stands for something other than Athletics.
The best thing that ever happened to this neighborhood was Downtown revitalization and the Arena. Before that most of the houses in that area were not kept up. People bought in this neighborhood because it was affordable since it was up and coming
When you look at Seattle and Portland where neighborhoods are just outside the core of downtown they are great. they get all the benefits of proximity to the arts, dining, sports, jobs however they still get a house with a yard. They knew when they bought the house that is was not Santa Teresa or Berryessa. They made a trade off when they bought so they need to accept responsibility for their home purchase.
NT,
#5 pulled it out of the same toilet as #6. By the way, nice post. And you’re right: SHP is nearly a mile west of Diridon South/HP Pavilion. That’s one hell of a backyard!
#1,#2,#3
Why couldn’t you continue discussion of SJ A’s baseball stadius five columns down in section “San Jose Wants the A’s” instead of “Rants and Raves” that lists no subject heading??
Without a single urban “youth” hostel I would not consider San Jose a “City”, (not even if it’s the largest in Northern California),rather it’s a Town. Certainly not “World Class”! Size doesn’t matter, but citizen outlook and self-identity which seem to be lacking.
pgp3
#2 spoke of “Especially those new residents of downtown condos,” You mean all 23 of them? C’mon, the new downtown condos are seriously empty because they have not accepted market reality in their pricing. The 88 drops its prices 8%-12% in a market that has experienced a 40% drop…and they wonder why the units don’t sell. Well, duh!
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that Axis and The 88 have the same marketing company. The 88 finally admitted its first resident. They held up getting their “white paper” (which is required before anybody can move in) because the developer has to pay the association dues for all the unsold residences, which is, like, 95% of them, or so. If they continue to have few sales, they’ll then move to renting them, which will demolish the value (if there ever was one) of the owner-occupied units.
#4—Holy one trick pony, Batman, PGP3 awakens again to rant about a youth hostel. Yo, if you want one so bad, open one up.
#5, you’re right, but you need to enroll in bonehead english at your nearest adult ed. center. “subsitity”?????
#6—S-Jay already has all but #1 and #4 on your list.
#7—it’s easy to label people NIMBYs when its not your hood that is affected. But, you’re right. SHP & WG have to have the highest % of NIMBYS in S-Jay…maybe anywhere.
I am not a baseball fan, but I’d love to see any MLB team here in S-Jay. However, the plans I have seen seem to have inadequate parking for the size of the proposed stadium. S-Jay ain’t the Northeast. People still don’t do public transit here as they do there, nor will they for a generation or two, at least.
But isn’t it all moot? The Giants are unlikely to give up their territorial rights, not even if Larry Stone gets down on his hands and knees to beg them to do so. So, I guess Larry needs to get down on his knees to The Commish.
10: “it’s easy to label people NIMBYs when its not your hood that is affected.”
I labeled them as such because this is quite a stretch. Not only are they not in the immediate vicinity, but they would have to stop multiple projects to preserve the status quo of parking lots and cyclone fences in that area. I would empathize more if Victorians were bulldozed the make way for a stadium, but this is anything but.
I’m not a baseball fan, either. I love sports and grew up with baseball, but I quickly realized that it’s not a very exciting game. However, I know that many in SJ do still love it and I hope this city becomes a place that appeals to everyone, not just me.
I am currently moving to the other side of downtown specifically for the type of atmosphere described by #8: walkable neighborhood but also a classic house with a yard. It’s the best of both worlds. I can only assume that proximity to activities will boost these people’s home values like proximity to jobs. Convenience is a positive, at least in my eyes.
A new stadium will be another anchor to build a self-supporting downtown. When you look at the area’s revitalization since the ‘70s, it is because of an influx of people looking for activity beyond drugs and prostitution. The notion that baseball brings society’s ills to your doorstep is like something out of Reefer Madness. I honestly predict it to be the opposite, at least from the testimony I saw at the city council meeting a few weeks back. Little Leaguers and their parents will not be the downfall of San Jose.
#2,
Of the 800 units of condos built in downtown; only about 60 have sold. of those 1/4 are behind or have forclosure started. all of the others aren’t worth what they paid for them!
So which of the 60 victims of san jose’s joke of a downtown dream are going to pay for a season ticket? And where will the other 10,000 season tickets holders come from?
The the 10,000 season tickets holders can also split the subsitity to the team as well!
To the Ballpark vs. NIMBYs: I attended the most recent City Council meeting where I was possibly the only “citizen” joining Mulcahy, Hammer, and the indefatigable taxman-gone-pitcher Stone (BOOOO!!).
Councilman Liccardo and his counterparts at RDA are overlooking us D3 residents in their list of neighborhoods to “console” in town hall therapy sessions, part of their A’s-to-SJ steps. I suggest three things:
1) Messrs. Reed, Oliverio, and Liccardo seek out supportive NAGs like ours to bolster their efforts;
2) Continue to preach the long-term benefits of MLB + SJ to Shasta-Hanchett (how many of them have Sharks season tickets?);
3) And not let the oft-overlooked issue of parking slip by and blind-side them down the road.
If Bud Selig & MLB give SJ the proverbial good finger while giving SF another, I would hate to see this turn into the next mealy Warm Springs/NUMMI debacle. Savvy citizens should not intentionally walk this cash- and SJ-spirit-boon over side-effect issues like congestion on The Alameda (where, anecdotally, there seems to be more traffic on Cinco de Mayo than any game-night, let alone freeway offramp closures).
Keep the faith, keep communicating, and keep exorbitant NIMBY-pleasing costs out of this game plan. If Rose Herrera and Mayor Reed can come up with baseball-related zingers, I want my stab: We have runners on first and second, let’s load the bases for the grand slam.
11 – Historic buildings will be destroyed if this plan becomes reality, but few in SJ seem to care about the destruction of our history.
#13 JW,
Nice post. But a few things.
1) With all due respect to SHP residents who DO support MLB to San Jose, the world of San Jose does not revolve around Shasta Hanchett Park. Personally, I don’t think a ballpark will have a negative or positive affect on that area a mile west of the site.
2) Baseball fans won’t park a mile west in their beautiful neighborhood; that would be insane! Unless they love to walk. They’ll either a) park in the downtown core b) take light-rail or Caltrain to a game (later BART and high-speed rail) or c) use 880 via Coleman and the future Autumn Parkway. The same pattern currently exists for Sharks games/HP Pavilion events.
As Tom McEnery once said, some people think a nuclear reactor is going in at that site, not a family entertainment center.
So we have a council member doing a survey in order to get public input over the looming fiscal crisis, while Reed is engaged with a secret deal with Wolff that would make RG blush. Of course in this case, we cannot depend on the DA to investigate Chuck a few weeks before the election. What did someone say today about Reed? Undemocratic? Not our Mayor, but Chuck, I think it is time that you stop pretending to be Dick Cheney, YOU ARE CHENEY!
#15,
This isn’t about leveling (as Nam Turk alluded to earlier) Victorian homes or buildings in the likes of Hotel St. Claire/De Anza Hotel/Bank of America building. It’s about transforming a decrepit piece of downtown property into a gem of a Major League ballpark. Just because a decrepit structure is old doesn’t mean it’s historic. I guess you love cyclone fences and empty lots.
#16
If this is a “secret deal” with Lew Wolff, why are we talking about it? Some secret! Chuck Reed = Dick Cheney? Shaking head very, very slowly.
JMOC #10,
Got news for yah! The decision to move the A’s to San Jose won’t be the Giants; it will be Major League Baseball’s through their Blue Ribbon Committee. If the Committee finds, as they should, that the A’s in San Jose will be best overall for MLB (including the Giants), those rights will fall like Rome. Don’t worry, the Giants will get their pound of flesh out of the deal.
And for the record, while there are NIMBY’s in SHP and WG, there are also supporters of San Jose’s ballpark efforts.
“Though Michael Martin has not been caught up in recent revelations about lawmakers expenses — reimbursements for chandeliers, moat cleaning and mortgage payments have outraged taxpayers — he was blamed for creating a climate in which such excesses were allowed”
Reed has a moat at the Compound which is cleaned regularly and chandeliers. He always pays for these things out his own pocket!
17 – You are wrong. There are some historic buildings in the area. You should do a little research because right now your ignorance is showing.
I work with City Movers LLC and have moved one of the 60 residence in to the new downtown area:) I think that the new stadium will provide new life and growth to the town, San Jose is one of the top destinations as far as job relocation goes, I know it doesn’t feel like it, but we are better off than allot of the country. Another thing to keep in mind is that this recession is not permanent, even the Great Depression had an end, and this recession is suppose to end next year ( So they say) but no matter the time, it will end someday and a ballpark downtown will make San Jose a more desirable place to move to.
No way, dudes. I have moved furniture all over the South Bay, and I can do better than City Movers. I moved things in five days and that was longer than I bothered the people in Modesto, though I want to Scott P’s trial, and Cheney, well there are 13 letters in 9/11. FIVE DAYS FOR MOVING BECAUSE I AM THE KING OF FURNITURE INSTALLING, THE KING!!!!
10th Largest:
You’re spot-on about the parking issue. I live in a neighborhood directly impacted by parking overflow from the Tank.
In the first Council meeting where the public aired their complaint-laundry and some lauds, the inevitable “Alameda beautification” proposition came up.
“Restore the Alameda to the heyday of ‘the Beautiful Way’; add pedestrian improvements; reduce the lanes to 2; and so on”, they carried. I wonder how those neighbors feel about federal and state pork projects…
S.H. has the potential to turn SJ the way of Warm Springs, and temptation may be to appease a very vocal minority by spending $, rather than convincing them of the long-term benefits of a ballpark.
I think (dare I use that “think” word in situations regarding development) the parking issue should be addressed in the downtown core, just as you imply.
Design a parking/pedestrian strategy that encourages traffic away from Delmas and S.H. neighborhoods, perhaps?
And if I were to consider starting another business downtown, I would snag that Swenson-owned wasteland at St. John/Notre Dame streets to build a public parking garage. I don’t like paying $35 to park on a dilapidated pier when I attend Giants games, but I do.
Actually any construction near an historic building requires, by CEQA, a full impact study. Tony just wants us to get him a ballpark without any questions or concerns. Democracy makes him uncomfortable.
#18 Native,
You’re the one being ignorant! I’ve been through Diridon South many times and don’t see anything worthy of being historic (other than the old Stephens Meat Sign of course). And no, the old KNTV studio’s or Patty’s Inn doesn’t count. Again, just because a structure is old (and more worthy of a brownfield) doesn’t mean it’s historic.
#19,
If you knew anything and spoke from your mouth (instead of your…), you’d realize that a full Environmental Impact Report has already been done for the ballpark site. And no, no beer belly on this guy.
#23,
“Design a parking/pedestrian strategy that encourages traffic away from Delmas and S.H. neighborhoods, perhaps?” Bingo! It’s called Light-Rail, Caltrain, future BART/High-speed rail, future Autumn Parkway from Coleman/880, parking in the downtown core. Much of this already occurs for Sharks games and 20,000 patron events at HP Pavilion. Ever wonder how thousands can attend the Jazz Festival downtown without destroying W.G. or S.H.?
And again, for the record, not all residents living around the downtown oppose a ballpark.
Santa Clara County is not alone. It has just been reported that an officer Damon Smith (of some San Diego County police dept.) secretly taped interviews of suspects, but never truned them over to anyone. So now it’s likely that a bunch of guilty criminals will go free. Great!
Autumn Parkway will be nowhere near Pellier Park. In fact, Autumn Parkway will complete the Guadalupe River Park north of HP Pavilion. The ballpark, and other improvements in Diridon/Arena, will also complete the final leg of Los Gatos Creek Park to Guadalupe. Yet some would prefer 75-year old rat-infested buildings, along with vacant lots and cyclone fences to this?
Amazingly, to very little local news, SJC’s Terminal A recently opened new ticket lobbies on the first floor. This is a huge improvement over the former ticketing lobby on the 2nd floor.
But the most shameful part of this, aside from no Merc coverage at all, is that the NBC11 website posts some stock photo of some other airport terminal with the Terminal A story. It clearly is not either Terminal A or C. Could drive the 2 miles to the airport to check it out? Jeesh!
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Big-Change-For-SJ-Passengers.html#V2FDggKQB
24 – I won’t waste much time trying to inform you, but… Just because you didn’t see anything that you deemed worthy of being historic doesn’t mean there is nothing historic. Unless you are a qualified historian who is trained to evaluate buildings (and clearly you are not) your opinion is worthless. There is specific criteria that is used in making these determinations.
The only thing you stated that is even close to having some accuracy to it is that “just because a structure is old… doesn’t mean it’s historic.” But, there is a lot more to a historic building than just age. If you bothered to do a little research you would know that.
You are also no expert when it comes to CEQA. The initial EIR will at least need a supplement if any historic buildings are to be demolished.
So, if your ballpark blindness is an indication of what the rest of us have to look forward in this discussion, it’s gonna be a long season.
That “Swenson-owned wasteland” is still slated for big development, including realignment of Julian Street. Parking will be addressed there along with the future marketplace. They’re just more components which make San Jose sweeter for the A’s.
Regarding historic buildings in the way, there are just a few as the footprint will extend just beyond Montgomery/San Fernando. Perhaps there could be concessions by the A’s to move any structures of historic value. For a couple buildings, that seems like pennies in the grand scheme of things.
That’s the Autumn Parkway that’s supposed to include Pellier Park, right?
#30, JMO,
Just got VHS “The Pink Panther Strikes Again”. After watching this silliness found dialogue lot smarter than your ramblings. What does SD Officer Smith have to do with SJ.
Why should I spend any time and money to open youth hostel in San Jose, your town? I already tried at 211 S. 11th. Didn’t get any help for zoning change from Green V.
Am much too busy here in Surf City. We need another hostel. Got too many guests from Sillicon Valley enjoying beaches, surf, parks, cool weather and no other inexpensive weekend places to stay.
Couple of months ago drove around DT San Jose after the useless planning session, where they talked future growth, specifically housing placement, with no regard about highways, businesses, public transport, infrastructure. Not one word about tourism. What a waste of everyone’s time. PO was in attendance but split before I could talk to him. After enjoying City Hall’s exhibit of my SJSU athletes’ I found nighttime San Jose to be quite attractive. If I were from further away wouldn’t mind staying in town, but there are no clean, safe, friendly yet affordable places to stay in town.
Please, denigrating blog responders for misspelling just shows your personality.
#5’s arguments made more sense than many of your postings.
Stick to logic (if you have any) rather than personalities (as I’m doing now).
I keep telling you I’m a one trick pony. Any other reason than my #1 hobby to participate on this blog? You could use a few more tricks yourself.
By the way, did they ever fix your potholes after the rainy season ended?
So long.
pgp3
I’m not a huge baseball fan but, I think it would be kewl to have a stadium. It could be used for other things as well like concerts and festivals ect..
If you knew about anything other than youth hostels, you’d get the connection between San Diego cops withholding evidence and Santa Clara D.A.‘s withholding evidence.
One trick pony.
JMO,
Sorry, seems no one in San Jose cares about DAs or youth hostels except you and me.
pgp3
pgp3—I guess you’re right