The company parted ways with its development partner, signaling a shift in strategy for a proposed 15,000-unit housing and office space project on Google-owned land in Silicon Valley.
A partnership between Google and developer LandLease has dissolved, placing into question a plan to build 15,000 housing units to alleviate the Silicon Valley housing crisis perpetuated by tech giants.
As Nate Berg reports in Fast Company, “The projects, announced last year, were intended to transform large swathes of Google-owned land in San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Mountain View into four dense, walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods.”
While the ocmpanies call the move a “strategic redirection,” Berg writes, “It’s hard to not read between the lines of this partnership’s dissolution, especially for a high-profile project that had aims to build many units of housing alongside ample office space.” For Berg, “Google and Lendlease parting ways suggests that large projects that are anchored to office developments—even ones as needed as dense housing in one of the country’s most expensive markets—will require some significant reconsideration.”
A Google spokesperson said the company is looking for new partners to move forward with the project. “That Google’s Arena refers to this next phase as delivering on Google’s “housing commitment” may indicate that its next steps are less focused on the commercial side of the original plan.”
FULL STORY: Google’s plan to build 15,000 new homes in Silicon Valley just got more complicated
Tech Giants Bank on Growth, Acquire More Space
To provide room for long-term expansion, companies like Google, Facebook, and LinkedIn are buying up even more Bay Area real estate. Their flush cash reserves have them nudging out the traditional development and investment crowd.
My City's More Man Than Yours
It may come as little surprise to some that the tech-heavy city of San Jose has more males than females. But in other parts of the Silicon Valley, just the opposite is true.
Google Continues to Expand in San Jose
Google has laid the foundation for four large, and distinct, employment centers in just one city of the South Bay Area.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process
The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.
Renters Now Outnumber Homeowners in Over 200 US Suburbs
High housing costs in city centers and the new-found flexibility offered by remote work are pushing more renters to suburban areas.
The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.
Supreme Court Ruling in Pipeline Case Guts Federal Environmental Law
The decision limits the scope of a federal law that mandates extensive environmental impact reviews of energy, infrastructure, and transportation projects.
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.
Municipality of Princeton
Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission
City of Mt Shasta
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)