Negotiations between the city of Mountain View and tech giant Google over the latter's plans to expand its headquarters recently took a strange turn.
"Google has backed down from a threat to deny badly needed housing in Mountain View if it isn’t given more office space for its futuristic new 'Charleston East' campus," reports Ethan Baron.
The ongoing evolution of the political situation surrounding Google's plans for its campus expansion shows the complicated nature of development in the Silicon Valley—where jobs are plentiful and housing is in short supply. Google's announcement last week was seem as an ultimatum from a bully, according to Mountain View politicians like vice-mayor Lenny Siegel.
At an attempt at reconciliation, Google sent a letter apologizing for the strong tone of the original statement. The letter also "proposed that city fees from development of housing and parks in North Bayshore could be used to offset housing costs, particularly for affordable homes," reports Baron. The plans for nearly 10,000 homes in the North Bayshore area has been a centerpiece of the plan since its original conception (the city even made space for the development in its plans for the North Bayshore area), so city stakeholders didn't react well to the proposal being treated as leverage for extra commercial space.
The article includes a lot more details about the planned development as it currently stands. The development is expected to go before the full Mountain View City Council in November.
FULL STORY: Google backs down from threat to cancel Mountain View housing
Google's Plan for the Future of its Campus Would Shift the Expectations for Corporate Campuses
Fast Company details the ambitions of a plan that would add thousands of homes, open space, and commercial development to the home of Google in the Silicon Valley.
Mountain View Goes Big on Google Expansion, Approves 10,000 Housing Units
Could the approval of a massive redevelopment plan for Google property in the city of Mountain View pave the way for a new development-friendly approach to planning in the Silicon Valley and the greater Bay Area?
Google, LinkedIn Complete 'Blockbuster' Land Swap
Big development news for two of the biggest names in the Silicon Valley.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.
Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.
From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service