I think we have to be concerned when the only major grocery store in the downtown core closes. Albertson’s is now gone. It comes hot on the heels of the closing of San Jose Hospital. The proper question is: what is going on?
When the downtown was planned anew in the late seventies and early eighties, there were a number of building blocks that were thought important: major hotels, museums, a convention center, parks, and a sports arena. But a key component that preceded any of the others was the maintenance of strong, vibrant and safe neighborhoods surrounding the core. Old timers and urban pioneers must be able to shop and get medical care. Indeed,
if Naglee Park, Shasta Hanchett, St. Leo’s, Northside, Hensley, and Washington were not kept healthy, the big ideas would fail. It was a simple plan, easily understood, and the city acted accordingly.
For many years we kept our eye on the ball. It seems lost now in a flurry of subsidized high-end restaurants like McCormick and Schmick’s, glitzy Grand Prix races, and an absence of thought. There is no plan. The pathetic, so-called “citizens committee” proved to be a dismal failure—a rubber stamp of mediocrity. They were led by the wrong ideas, at the wrong time, in the wrong order, and small businesses were given short shrift.
It was most apparent during the early stages of the current administration—they forgot the basics: protect the quality of life in our neighborhoods surrounding the core and support the small businesses in it. The Redevelopment Agency wandered in a daze of underground garages and eminent domain that repeated the same mistakes of the past and learned nothing from the successes. The latter had the taint of past administrations that this current one despised. In the process, they failed to take advantage of the hottest economy in the history of this valley, or perhaps any valley. Hmmmm. If only a bit of the competence and integrity of those former days were present in the opening decade of the 21st Century, things could have been so very different.
Losing our major hospital and grocery store is a sad statement of our priorities as a city. Some might attribute it to larger economic trends and societal swings; I say it is simply a case of not knowing what to do—and when to do it. It is not surprising, but it is sad.
Mr. McEnery,
You are a great man who has done great things for our city, but I’m going to have to disagree with you on this one. Many on this blog have referred to the soon to be closed Albertsons as a “dump,” and having been there in the past, I would have to agree with them. The place needs to go! In any other large American cities, the closing of a blight ridden supermarket wouldn’t garner any attention. But because it’s happening in downtown SJ, I’m affraid to many will use the closing as “ammo” against the current administration. Let’s all take a step back and forget all the scandal and corruption for a second…is the closing of this rats nest justified?
“Not knowing what to do and when” should be the motto of this whole administration. I feel that they do things for money, greed or stupidity – is anything ever thought out?
Tom, how much I agree with you on all your points. I was born in San Jose Hospital and for many years lived on South 16th Street. Our grocery store was Lucky (aka Albertson). We shopped on South First and Second streets where there was plenty of parking. What should we do now to make the inner core attractive and liveable?
How do we attract the visionaries who can help us out of our mess? I’m not yet convinced that any of the announced candidates for public office are the right people. Let’s hear their ideas on the inner core. The garbage is being collected. The race will take place, now let’s get on with some real ideas.
I think the point is that they don’t try to make things better they just close things without thinking….yes, Albertson’s could be better, but you have to offer people the amenities they need to live downtown, or why would they choose to?
Dan and Tony
You both have merit to your positions. I think that many small businesses are undercaptalized and understaffed. Albertson’s was probably among these. They finally gave up. To have a vibrant downtown, you must have great institutions, healthy neighborhoods, and thriving small businesses. New people are moving downtown,many of us would not live anywhere else, but if the city supports only expensive restaurants,nightclubs on every corner, and questionable events, i.e., the Grand Prix, we will never have the proper balance. You never have a second chance to make a first impression, and downtown must have a smarter plan. TMcE
Tom, you’ve made some excellent points but I have to agree with Tony D. That store is a dump and I doubt many Naglee Park residents are willing to deal with the BS that goes hand in hand with shopping there or even parking in their lot. I know people who live in Naglee Park and when I’ve asked them where they do their grocery shopping they all said Midtown Safeway, which is already well on its way to claiming the new title for trashiest supermarket.
I’ve heard that there’s already a plan for a new supermarket in the works with the Redevelopment Agency. But from how it was described it may turn out that it’s just going to be a Trader Joes and not a true supermarket.
Once the condos are built, the markets will follow. Obviously the current client base isn’t cutting it to support one and Albertsons stuck it out for quite a while before giving up.
What if the so-called mayor of downtown, Ms. Chavez, really had a plan for downtown besides subsidizing private businesses and events? Since she likes to toss our money away why not give it to a big new grocery store to set up shop downtown??
Over the past year I have contacted the vice mayor, actually you cant speak with her, just her minions, reguarding the huge amount of housing being built in the down town area and the lack of services. they are very sympathetic, blah blah blah. And here we are another service gone. San Jose Market Place on Coleman what a name and no market.
Wells, not only does SJ Marketplace not have a market, but planning/council also didn’t push for a unique architecture or layout even though this center will be adjacent to downtown and the Guadalupe River park. It’s just another strip-style shopping center and is going to look like it would fit in perfectly at some outlying suburban intersection.
The “city that knows how” would not allow such a development unless it had plenty of unique character, but here in the “city that doesn’t know how to get a clue” nobody in charge even gives a rat’s ass about how things look. This town’s leadership has got to stop settling for the mediocre plans that are presented and demand more from developers when it comes to architecture and capitalizing on a given location.
I wonder how many times Tom has shopped at Albertson’s in the past year or even the past 5 years. I am thinking he could count the times on his fingers, the fingers of one hand. I know I can. The store is now, and has been for at least the past 20 years, a blight. You say we need to support “healthy establisments”. How in the world anyone could think that establishment is healthy is beyond me. And another thing, comparing this to the closing of the hospital is absurd.
Trader Joe’s in downtown would be a dream.
So what happened to Albertsons? I just shopped there Saturday.
The fact that the Santa Clara Street Albertsons is a dump misses the larger point. It is the only supermarket in Downtown just as San Jose Hospital was the only downtown hospital. Both facilities should have been improved long ago to service a growing neighborhood.
Tom is right. The peole who were supposed to be in charge of planning the basic downtown neighborhood services were too busy planting palm trees and subsidizing out of town chain restaurants.
I heard from an Albertsons employee, that they are leaving, because it wasn’t enough for the city, that they cleaned up the property, and upgraded thier store. That the city was working with Safeway for that location, because Safeway agreed to working with the city to redevelope the property to include underground parking and housing above the supermarket. Is there any truth to this? Or is it just another rumour?
Personally I shop at Midtown, because they stay open 24 hours. i do my shopping afterhours, due to my work schedule. It’s just easier, and you dont have to fight the crowds. But even Midtown is no longer what it used to be. The store is nice and clean enough, but Management and employees do little to chase away the panhandlers and vagrants, that sit in front of the doors, especially late at night, and in the morning hours, when it can be scarry.
I was once told by a security gaurd that was patroling the parking lot that I had to leave the lot at 2:30am, when I was sitting in my car eating a sandwich, cheese sticks, and cola, that I had just purchased in the store. The gaurd didnt care that I had just spent money in the store, and was mearly eating my lunch (my weird schedule), before heading off to the gym at 24hour fitness. Yet, they do nothing to chase away the panhandlers that I have to walk past, that I have to sometimes endure foul language, because I choose not to hand them any money.
Am I the only one who suspects that Albertson’s departure was long planned? The arrival of city hall to the neighborhood, a year before its parking structure was completed, turned the shopping center property into a surrogate short-term parking lot for people doing business at city hall (a situation aggravated by the evaporation of street parking). This development, one which certainly impacted the store’s receipts, should have surprised no one, including Albertson’s, yet nothing was (or is being) done to address this problem.
And for good reason. To chain store executives intent on abandoning a neighborhood, especially one populated by low-income families and people of color, only poor sales can get you out without taking a major public relations hit from the loud, compassionate voices in the community and the media (you know, the folks with no capital at risk). Oh, they may still scream and holler, but Albertson’s core customers in the suburbs appreciate economic realities.
Let’s admit it, the shopping center property has long been an eyesore, one in which, prior to the arrival of big government next door, served as a staging area for crack dealers, drunks, and a squadron of shopping cart bums. Now that they’ve pretty much fled, the lot is just dirty and crowded, and I suspect the top folks at Albertson’s were as happy at the prospect of getting out as the top folks at city hall are about the prospect of seeing that property redeveloped.
I have called The Albertson’s nee Lucky’s “The worst Supermarket in North America” for a couple of decades. It could well be the worst in the entire developed world. How it survived so long catering to the “community” it “serves” astounds me. The Albertsons @ Bird & Minnesota, also nee Lucky’s, was long the second worst market in North America. Since the communities they eached served are so diverse, one can but wonder about management of both corporations.
Friends of mine who lived in Naglee Park years ago shopped at Zanottos, before midtown Safeway was built. That gave the Zanottos folks some hairbrained notion that they could build in the downtown core and charge the same inflated prices the Rose Garden folks willingly paid(since they could afford to do so). Zanotto’s gets a huge RDA subsidy, and the owners and the RDA never could figure out why it failed—it’s your prices, stupid! Oh, and small selection, too.
Dowtown revitalization (redevelopment) was conceived, planned, and executed exactly backwards. Sorry, Tom, but that includes your administration and Frank Taylor’s RDA, as well. The “If you build it they will come” meant housing first, not subsidized hotels, chain restaurants, convention centers (caters to visitors only), Retail (HAH!) Pavilion, light rail that “downtown” goes about as fast as I can walk, while going from nowhere to nowhere. You can’t possibly have a 24 hour downtown if nobody lives there. DUH!
Why would any retail come to a place with no residents with any significant means?
If the housing we are now building had been built in the late 70’s-to-mid 80’s, we would not be having this discussion. That housing should also have had ground floor retail, as many new developments have planned.
The only way to get and keep retail and services in the “dowtown” or central core is to have a large population for them to serve. Only now is the city without a clue starting to get it right.
Does anyone know why the delay with the CIM project across from PF Chang’s? I heard there were delays due to RDA subsidy issues, and that due to that all we have is a ceremonial ground-breaking to keep the subsidy, a perimeter fence, the loss of a bunch of parking spaces this winter, when they can’t dig anyway. Why couldn’t they have just left the lot open, since everyone knows they can’t do the subteranean construction in the rainy season?
San Jose Hospital, Albertsons, the Pavillion, light rail to no where, the blue debacle of the blue tent, lack of parking—free or otherwise, and the hoge poge of buildings that are downtown is the result of a lack of a master plan.
Where does downtown start and where does it end? Why has an anchor store not been found in downtown since the hey-dey of Harts? Why is Santana Row so popular and what can we learn from their success? How many times have we “revitalized” downtown?
Other than the arena, what is a destination center for downtown—and is the Arena really part of downtown?
The simple fact is you need consumers to make a grocery store or a hospital work. You need housing and a desirable, defined neighborhood to attract people. You need higher density housing, better transportation, accessible parking that feeds into a pedestrian freindly core and destination centers—that make people want to come downtown.
The changes that are necessary will cause some short-term pain and there is no way easy way around that—for instance, downtown wants BART, but don’t tear up the streets while it’s being built.
High density housing is terrific along transportation corridors, except in my neighborhood.
Downtown advocates will tell you they have already sacrificed enough, that may be true, but unless a comprehensive plan for the future is implemented, I’m afraid downtown will become “old town” in a matter of years.
Having said that, what are the real solutions for revitalizing downtown on a longterm basis?
It was very handy to have Albertson’s in Downtown, and I dropped in there for about a quarter of my grocery shopping, but, for me, almost anything I wanted from there I could also have picked up at Zanotto’s or Mi Pueblo. So it’s not as if Downtown’s been left without grocery options. It’s just that now Downtown (not counting Midtown) doesn’t have a very big grocery store meant for the average San Jose shopper, and instead it has some medium-size stores meant for just slightly more specialized markets.
I disagree with the idea that Albertson’s was just a dump, but I don’t see what good that big parking lot does for Santa Clara Street. It’s a big discontinuity in the commercial district. (Then again, so is City Hall.)
Behind-Bar Guy, don’t you know eating right before exercising is bad for you?
#9… Personally I could care less what San Jose Market Center looks like. I dont need it to have “unique architecture”. Im just glad that it will be there. San Jose’s Downtown has been in dire need of such a place, with such an array of economical shopping, all in one place and so near the downtown core. Granted it would have been cool to see a Nob Hill or other competitive Supermarket at that location. You can keep you Trader Joe’s, or other high priced luxury markets. Sure they are great to have around, but unlike Tom McE, along with some of you others, Alot of us cant exactly afford to do most of our shopping at these trendy, over priced places. We do live here too, ya know!
Years ago, I used to joke across the bar, with out of towners, by saying “Welcome to San Jose, the capitol city of bad architecture!” Architecture
has never been San Jose’s strenght, even to this day, when you look at that cold looking City Hall.
Sure, the rotunda looks cool, but the rest of the building is cold and bland looking. Millions and millions of taxpayers dollars were poured into that pile of concrete, and they couldn’t even afford a few outdoor ashtrays. The fountain is somewhat interesting, but should have been turned around to face the street, were it could be better enjoyed, and would add to the curb appeal of the Building, from the street.
Has anybody seen the new apartment buildings on the corner of Stockton Ave and Cinnabar? Those have got to be the ugliest things Ive seen in a long time. Granted they are supposed to be the city’s idea of “low income” at something like $1200 or $1300 for a 1 bedroom. Low income???? What???
So BRING ON San Jose Market Center!!! Im ready, and welcome it! It’s about time!
#18—Trader Joe’s is a trendy, high priced place?? Obviously you’ve never been there. They have some of the best values under their own brand of any store around.
Too bad you aren’t concerned about how our buildings look. When architecture is bland it reflects poorly on its surroundings. Welcome to the capitol of bland. You are right about city hall—the rotunda by itself is fine but it looks like a ridiculous after though sitting there NEXT to the building and serving no real purpose.
And about the housing on Cinnabar—just another case of the city letting a historic structure be demolished so one of the mayor’s pals (Larry Stone) could build a project of questionable design.
Welcome to San Jose.
I hear they are building a Whole Foods store on the Alameda, but it’s pretty pricey…
#18 At least the old city hall had some trees and grass…
Tom.
What is the ” pathetic, so-called
Once again, all manner of suggestions regarding how to make Downtown something it’s not. More infrastructure… more housing… more whatever.
It was the monied developers and their friendly City leaders – those who stood to benefit from a revitalized Downtown – who made it the mess that it is today.
The current imbalance of residents and infrastructure is, pure and simple, a result of meddling with what should take place naturally. Spending untold dollars on subsidizing this or that business, the foolish relocation of City Hall, etc.
I continue to wonder why we should care all that much about the Downtown area. As I’ve said before, put the RDA budget on the ballot and see just how many San Jose residents would vote for continuing to spend so much money on Downtown.
Downtown San Jose is a failure! No other way around it. All the b.s. about huge amount of condos and poeple moving to downtown is nothing but a load of b.s.. You’re dreaming as evidence of a stalled CIM project, and they will never build it because they can’t get a consruction loan since investors also think they’re dreaming. The housing that will get built are the City heights and a five story housing project on First and Basset. The only CIM project will be completed is the Lucky’s Strike bowling with 4 story condos on top, which is located on Second St., but the 24 story condo with retail on 3rd and San Fernando will never get build due to reason mentioned above. That’s very few housing for the next 3 years, and downtown is dead before that. San Jose is a suburban disaster, and that’s the way alot of San Joseans proclaim to like it. So, stop dreamin’ and wake up with the cup of orange capuccino.
The Guy Behind the Bar absolutely nails the new CH. A fountain with it’s back to the street? That truly epitomizes a 500 million dollar ‘Marie Antoinette’ CH in a town that’s broke and struggling to provide basic services.
Anyone know if we kept the receipt?
i live in the downtown area and when i first move into downtown i was very suprise to find out that albertson is the only supermarket next to zanotto’s that is within downtown. but after going to the albertson in downtown, i would also have to agree the place is a dump. bums are always hanging outside the place a majority of the time and for an albertson’s the selection seems pretty meager. so i find myself traveling all the way to berryessa for my shopping. i honestly dont think the location is all that bad but the apearance of the shopping center itself with all the bums seems pretty ugly which might deter a significant amount of people to not shop there.
Anybody who thinks Albertson’s is the worst grocery store has never been to New York. Gristede’s, D’Agostinos, Food Emporium et. al. make Albertson’s look like paradise. The New York stores are dingy and have high prices and so-so selection. That’s the price you pay for living in the big city.
SJ doesn’t get how to build communities. They build housing developments and figure somebody else will take care of whatever the residents might need. As an example, tons of housing were built in the N SJ/Berryessa area a number of years ago (they are still cramming housing into every last parcel they can find) but no basic services were available until many years later. Not only was in inconvenient for those who lived there but it cost SJ untold hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost sales tax because people shopped in Milpitas or Santa Clara. Makes no sense to keep building housing, be it N SJ or downtown, and not also build the needed services at the same time.
Those who do not learn from history….yada, yada, yada.
Bar Guy, I agree with you about Midtown Safeway picking up the baton from Albertsons as a haven for vagrants etc. That place is a zoo and I tend to avoid it. But you are entirely off the mark about Trader Joe’s as #19 states. Some of the best deals can be found there. But TJ’s isn’t a place to do all of your grocery shopping any more than downtown Zanotto’s is, and Zanotto’s practices outright thievery with their prices anyway so it can’t be considered as a viable alternative to a big chain grocer.
I don’t know who Whole Foods expects to shop at their planned store on The Alameda because their prices are worse than Zanotto’s. Not everybody living in the Rose Garden is rich, so WF shouldn’t be counting on that neighborhood to help them make their numbers.
As for SJ Marketplace, Bar Guy, this is where you become part of the problem. It’s this same kind of thinking that got us that striking building formerly known as the Holiday Inn at Almaden & San Carlos, and many other multi-storied disasters. You say you tell your friends that SJ is the capital of bad architecture and yet you support more of it with your willingness to accept the mediocrity that will soon be SJ Marketplace.
I guess the old saying “aim low and you’ll never be disappointed” applies here.
Casa Castillo served downtown for 18 years and was forced out. The restaraunt that replaced Casa Castillo was the winner of the Best Asian Rest. in the Metro in July of last year. There is a chain link lock on the door of the establishment as mentioned in the Metro today. I ran into Bill Chew outside of it this afternoon and the sign states they are closed temporarily. The metro reports the owner has filed for bankruptcy. Living proof that this group of decision makers are taking this place backwards.
In response to the earlier request by Mr. Robinson. “Having said that, what are the real solutions for revitalizing downtown on a longterm basis? “
It is very simple. If it is not broken, it should not even be thought of as an opportunity to make Downtown more like Santana Row. Or as my mother said, “don’t fix it.”
And secondly as all of our mothers told us many moons ago, “You are either a help or a hindrance. It is simple. Just answer that question.” I am hard pressed to find a thing that has helped in the past eight years. I am sure the list is as long as my arm of hindrances.
As a matter of fact, I visited Major Tollerud, Director at the Salvation Army on 4th Street. He told me they had a 41 million dollar project planned to build senior living facilities to go along with the senior nourishment project. You wouldn’t believe it, the city denied them. It turns out the city wants some more of that ill advised housing as described above on the 4 acres that Salvation Army owns.
Front page of the Valley section today states that giving is down in the area, due to Katrina and the rest of the worlds disasters. Yet, Salvation Army who had millions to dump into downtown was denied, and is being passed off like a dead goose.
The answer to the question is, this type of project helps. And we can’t continue to hinder people who are here to help.
Speaking of poorly designed buildings—has anyone seen “the Jetson’s” complex at Hamilton and Campbell Ave?
It’s across from Westgate and El Paseo Shopping Center—now that’s ugly.
There used to be a contest for ugliest building in San Jose by some columnist, I forget who, but it was a hoot. Plenty to choose from—my pick is above—not even the blue tent is that ugly.
#18 behind the bar: I gotta agree with #19—TJ’s is cheap. Where do you shop that you think it’s high priced. Are you confusing it with Whole Paycheck, aka Whole Foods?
Like Dennis #29, I read in Metro today that Zygs is closed, and will probably file for bankruptcy. Casa Castillo made it happen there for 18 years, but once again the RDA got in the way, bought the building for lofts, and threw Marcellino Castillo out on his ass, aftrer he had succeeded for 18 years despite all the downtown problems, not the least of which was the construction of the light rail to nowhere. But they apparently had to pay him seven figures to break the lease…that’s seven figures of our taxes, which could have gone to something far better while leaving Marcelino downtown. Another waste of money by the inept staff and management of the RDA. Many of the same people that brought us the Retail Pavilion. These people at the RDA are almost as inept as weather forecasters. They put big money on bad deals. Who gives these bozos their annual reviews?
It’s time for another Boston Tea Party!
Too funny Rich.
That’s LeZotte’s palace, made out of recyclable’s and such. To me it more resembles an ocean liner – the SS El Paseo if you will.
http://www.firsthousing.org/pdfs/hessarticle.pdf
Dennis #29,
Just so everyone is clear. The Zing restuarant did not recieve any money from the City or RDA. They invested thier own resources with a very small stipend from the landlord.
Thier project was delayed over and over by the city. It took over 1 and a half years longer than they expected to open. The lost revenue and delays doomed them from the start.
Opening a food establishment now takes over 2 years in San Jose. Even though the actual construction is usually 3-4 months of work. I know this from having just finished a place here. This is a very tough and frustrating place to do business.
But I want you to know, very few of us ever recieve any money or support from the city.
Bar Owner who has been there
JohnMichael, Mark T, and TJ…
Yes, I was confusing Trader Joes with Whole Foods. Zannotto’s is another example.
Who is going to do the comprehensive mixed use planning, project and infrastructure implementation to properly develop San Jose’s downtown into a great urban destination ?
Well people
Not to worry. Give it 20 years and downtown SJ will look like Moscow. Mile after mile of apartments/condos/town homes. Call them what you will.
The rivers will have coal barges moving along to the canals down to Coyote Valley so the now new Cal Pine power plant can continue to crank out kilowatts of energy while spewing tons of polution from its new smoke stacks.
And some new construction just before the Morgan Hill city limit. (Some say its a new city hall and won’t cost more than $1 billion to build.
Wow, I’m impressed.
Just a quick note about the downtown’s influence on the rest of San Jose. The city’s planning department is visibly exporting downtown’s problems to the rest of the city at a very speedy rate. Downtown is slated to expand along most of the larger streets and the light rail.
Planners refuse to consider a major grocery store, however, at the northern end of what they anticipate will be an extension of downtown all along North First.
The city council member for the area refuses to consider any kind of site along North Capitol for fine dining or entertainment, thus strengthening the impulse to dine and shop in Milpitas or Santa Clara. But North Capitol and Old Oakland Road are being downtownized as we speak.
Many observers can only wonder at the export of failed ideas from our downtown experience all along major streets running away from downtown.
If readers believe that city planners are genuinely focused on strengthening downtown instead of spreading downtown traffic rules, and downtown density & height rules all around the downtown, they have another think coming.
Downtown will eventually resemble a spider with a grungy body in “old town” and many grungy legs spread over the whole landscape in lengthy, but narrow stretches.
I live near Old Oakland and Brokaw near the San Jose Gulf Course. I only go to downtown when I have to go work out at the gym, go see hubby at the Federal Builing, go to City Hall or when something is “happening”. Occasionaly I’ll head over there just to walk around or when I get that urban craving. If I wanna go shopping or see a movie, it’s easier just to drive down the street to the Great Mall. If I wanna eat out, it’s just easier to eat out where I live cuz there are a lot of restaurants over here. I like downtown and I want to support it, but there really isn’t a whole lot a reason for me to be there other then what I just mentioned.
Novice,
I’m all for affordable housing—and there are terrific examples of great projects—the Senior Project built by the Housing Authority in Santa Clara won a Golden Nugget (the Oscars for the development community).
Stoney Pine in Sunnyvale was one of a very select group that was displayed at the National Building Institute in Washington D.C. as an example of great design.
Pensione Esperanza on Auzerais is an outstanding SRO project in San Jose.
http://charitieshousing.org/completed.htm
San Antonio Place in Mountain View is under construction and will be a great asset for that community.
I just believe “the Jetson Building” looks like a landing site for aliens.
I can’t believe what I’m reading. The “Jetsons” building is ugly? C’mon Rich, this is exactly the kind of daring architectural statement we need more of around this town. I find that building far more interesting than anything else in a radius of several miles. It may appear to stick out like a sore thumb among the boring shopping malls that nearly surround it, but at least it made you take notice, didn’t it?
Rich, your same mentality on the planning commission and council is what has given us the big boring boxes all over downtown. I’ll take a larger version of the “Jetsons” building on the Sobrato property over what ended up there any day. This town needs an architectural personality transfusion and buildings with some creativity behind them need to be the rule, not the exception. If they are controversial, great. That means the architect put some thought into his/her work, unlike the cranked-out skyline we now have that only echoes the stamped-out homes of the outlying suburban sprawl zones.
Downtown needs to be a destination and architecture can play a big role in accomplishing that.
Richie#30: you talkin’ about that post-industrial low income apt. building by El Paseo de Saratoga? As I recall, Alan Hess—the Murky News’ shill architectural critic—gave it some kind of two thumbs up award. As I recall, it was designed by a local architect, Jerry King. I am in the area once a week, and have never seen a soul around the building. Is it perhaps really a spy building commissioned by Dubya?
Have no fear.
Just walk over to the new ballpark, have yourself a hotdog and enjoy the game.
Or call the nearest RoundTable and have a pizza delivered. Oh wait… they are only open for hockey games.
Subsidized Grand Prix? They should have called it Prix in the Park and used Measure P Bond Funds like the other professional sports “parks”:
http://www.sanjoseca.gov/prns/Commissions/doc/PRCAgenda011806.doc
(See Action Item 4.1)
Yes Albertsons was a little scary but its closing displays a major point. The people and businesses who have been downtown for years, sweating and grinding it out, are getting pushed out for the companies who would only come in with a huge subsidy. I love Trader Joes but heard that they want more money to come downtown.
Our politicians are so out of touch with doing the right thing with the longtime downtown businesses that it is infuriating. How about asking out the girl who has been a loyal friend instead of always trying to get a date with the prom queen?
Has Cindy returned the Merc’s call yet to comment on Albertson’s closing?
Here’s another situation where she should be right out in front with a plan to provide neighborhood services for her district. Instead, it’s another game of Where’s Cindy?
Oh well, in a week or two there will probably be a community meeting at which she will boldly show up with her minions while somebody else provides the solution.
It’s become a familiar pattern.
Just what is it about Downtown that screams out subsidy at every turn. Can you imagine, if every time a business closed it’s doors throughout the City, the RDA or some other City agency stepped in and offered subsidies?
Dear Downtown resident,
The news of Albertson’s closure at the beginning of February has taken everyone by surprise; especially those of us who have been committed to providing Downtown residents with full-service grocery options. Since I was elected in 1998, neighbors have been consistent in their desire for new grocery opportunities and improvements of the Albertson’s store.
Over the past seven years, I have been in numerous conversations with city staff and Albertson’s regarding the rebuilding or remodeling of its currently existing store and the potential redevelopment of the entire East Santa Clara site as a mixed-use development. Albertson’s was a partner in exploring the various options, but remained unable to commit to any substantial improvements at the Downtown store.
More recently, Albertson’s has been reevaluating its south bay presence and considering a range of options at the Downtown location and others throughout the Bay Area. Over the past few months, they have closed stores in Palo Alto and Oakland. City Staff and I were unaware that a final sales agreement of their leasehold interest was in place and that closure was imminent at the East Santa Clara Street site. According to Albertson’s, they will be entering into contract to sell their leasehold interest to a local developer by the end of the month and are exploring similar deals elsewhere. While the ownership of the site remains divided among the current 3 property owners, the sale of the remainder term of their lease will trigger the closure of the store.
The new group, led by Kimball Small, will pursue replacing Albertson’s with another full-service grocery store in the near-term. I have asked and they have agreed to host a community meeting to introduce themselves within the next few weeks. Their proposal to bring another full-service grocery store to the site is good news to all of us who live and shop Downtown.
Over the past few years, I have worked diligently with Downtown residents on pursuing a range of grocery opportunities in the area. We have successfully kept Zanotto’s operating downtown despite tough economic times that threatened to close the store. Last fall, the Redevelopment Agency issued an RFP for a supermarket on the North San Pedro housing site, leading to discussions between Safeway and the selected residential developer of the site. We have worked with property owners in developing a Whole Foods market concept for the northwest corer of The Alameda and Stockton Avenue; a deal that has not yet been finalized. Agency staff have also assisted Trader Joe’s in seeking a location in the greater downtown area and several sites are under consideration at this time. These efforts will continue.
Albertson’s decision to close their doors and sell to a private developer impacts those of us who live nearby the most and place a premium on our on-going efforts to bring new stores Downtown.
In the meantime, Redevelopment Agency staff have provided the following list of several of the grocery stores in and around the Downtown:
Zanottos, 38 S. 2nd Street
Zanottos, 1988 Naglee Avenue,
Safeway at 1300 West San Carlos,
Safeway at 2605 The Alamda, Santa Clara (adjacent to Santa Clara University)
Mi Pueblo at 235 E. Julian (at 5th Street)
Chapparral Super at 1001 E. Santa Clara St.
North Side Super market at 901 No 13th St.
Super Mercado Mexico at 960 E. Santa Clara
I remain committed to providing diverse opportunities for Downtown residents to shop at a full-service grocery store and will continue to work with staff as we pursue new options for the Albertson’s site and others in the area.
Cindy
Cindy – thanks for the update and information. Having Kim Small working on the replacement is very good news. He is one of the selfless people who have laid everything on the line to improve the downtown and the city – keep pushing on this front. TMcE
“Safeway at 2605 The Alamda, Santa Clara (adjacent to Santa Clara University)”
Are you are saying go shop in Santa Clara because you would rather spend our redevelopment dollars on professional sports? Doug Yokomizo at TJs said the city will not subsidize a development on the Alameda to overcome parking limitation and the city didn’t work on developing the Whole Foods deal. Thankfully Hudson hired RetailWest. Subsidizing professional sports doesn’t foster a livable downtown community where can families thrive.
#45. Oh, THERE’S Cindy. At 9:25 on the third night after the announced closing of her district’s only big supermarket the would-be Mayor finally has something to say on the issue.
Now THAT’s leadership!
No one said she was quick to respond or shoots from the hip. Better late than never. Keep us informed Cindy.
#50. “Better late than never.”
That’s one hell of a campaign slogan!
Hi Tom, I am also dismayed at these closings. I moved to San Jose because it seemed like the perfect ‘livable’ urban space. I chose to live in the zone near Albertson’s, the wonderful MLK library and the lightrail (I actually picked this area out from hundreds of miles away, through research from Columbus, Ohio—and I was not disappointed!). The value of this neighborhood has been depreciated in my eyes. Albertson’s was definitely not the prettiest grocery store on the outside, but it was nice inside. They had good prices, friendly employees, and fresh food. With a few measures to remodel, clean up the parking lot, and maybe a security guard to keep people from “hanging out” right outside the door, it would have been perfect. I’m very disappointed, and I am considering moving.
When I heard the news that Albertsons was closing I was elated. It was gross and disgusting, just like the Mid-Town Safeway. I gave up on Zanotos a long time ago, because it is a hassle driving in and out of their parking lot. Seriously I can’t believe all of downtown depends on that filthy awful Mid-Town Safeway. Their parking lot is filled with an assortment of drug addicts and peddlers. I have no desire to buy tamales from the back of someones car!