Google's Big Mixed-Use Plans for Downtown San Jose Come Into Focus

[Updated October 14, 2020] The city of San Jose released hundreds of pages of documents detailing the Downtown West Mixed-Use Plan, Google's plan to "develop 81 acres in downtown San Jose into a transit-oriented area consisting of new office space, housing and open space," as described in an article by Jenn Goodman.

"Google's revised project proposal includes up to 7.3 million square feet of office space; 4,000 units of new housing; 15 acres of parks and open space; and 500,000 square feet of retail, culture and art space, among other features," according to Goodman. SITELAB urban studio is the lead urban designer for the Downtown West Mixed Use Plan, and created the design standards and guidelines released by the city this month.

A previous iteration of the plan was released in September as a Framework Plan for the Diridon Transit Village. The new plan will require several related entitlements and approvals, namely a general plan amendment, an amendment to the Diridon Station Area Plan, a Planned Development Zoning District, a Planned Development Permit, and an environmental impact review, among others. The plan is also proceeding under state law AB 900, with certification from the Governor's Office that the Downtown West Mixed-Use Plan would not result in any net additional greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The coronavirus pandemic has delayed the project's review by a few months, but plans are expected to be before the San Jose City Council for approval in Spring 2021.

Previous Planetizen coverage of Google's plans for the Downtown San Jose development proximate to the Diridon Transit Station:

• Google Planning Massive Expansion in San Jose (June 2017)
• Google's Second Headquarters and the Future of San Jose (December 2017)
• Google's San Jose Transit Village Plans Revealed (September 2019)