Editorial: Raise Height Limits to San Jose's Proper Stature

[Updated: The City Council voted to approve the new height limits for Downtown San Jose.]

"The City Council should vote Tuesday to raise building height limits in parts of downtown," according to the argument in this editorial by The Mercury News. "It makes good business sense and is an important strategic step toward crafting a more vibrant downtown that entices people to work, live and play."

On the table are new height restrictions that would allow buildings to rise 5 to 35 feet higher in the downtown core and 70 to 150 feet higher around Diridon Station.

"City officials say raising the height limits would allow construction of an additional 9 million square feet of office space and bring in about $5 million more in city tax revenues each year," according to the editorial.

The editorial also makes the case that the new height limits meet standards necessary for air travel to and from the Mineta San Jose International Airport.