Playgrounds are not just for kids! Playgrounds designed to engage senior citizens are keeping the community healthy in Spain.
How might we incorporate some of these concepts as we think about what amenities we want the Core Companies to design into their final proposal?
Innovative urban planning has the capacity to make the commute more enjoyable for all kinds of travelers. Most people enjoy riding their bicycles, but some roads and intersections are just too daunting, and would-be bikers head to their cars because those intersections just don't feel safe! And once you're in your car, who knows how long you will be stuck in traffic?
Here are some examples of more interesting intersections designed to be safer and easier for all.
Check out this fly-through of this "Protected Intersection" in Salt Lake City, Utah:
And here is a "Continuous Flow Intersection" in West Valley City, Utah. This intersection was designed to improve traffic flow, but does not seem to consider cyclists.
Shane Newell from Peninsula Press via SF Gate sheds some light on the different views held by local residents the Core/CNGF affordable housing agrihood development.
The primary concern for neighbors - to nobody's surprise - is traffic. High density housing seems to be the only way to accommodate the increasing population that wants to live in cities, however creating a system that allows high density housing and green space without massive traffic increases is something that Core, CNGF, and the community are going to have to work together to find innovative solutions.
Check out the article HERE and join us to become a part of the community that will determine the future of land use in Silicon Valley.
Tom Karwin, president of the Friends of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretom and UC Master Gardener writes in the Santa Cruz Sentinel that he "...never expected to be impressed by a housing development in the San Jose area... [but] Agrihoods could become the evolutionary next step beyond community gardens and community-supported agriculture."
Find out why he's so impressed: read the full article HERE!
While this is not a Win6 project, we felt this audience should be aware of what is likely the largest private development in Silicon Valley history. The City Place project is valued at over $6.5 Billion. This is the 239-acre site just north of Levi's Stadium (currently, the golf course and BMX track). Understanding the impact this project will have on the county is very important to shaping the vision for our region. I encourage you to participate and stay informed.
The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was released on Friday, Oct 9th. The EIR process allows the public to provide feedback and comments for 45 days, ending around November 23rd. http://santaclaraca.gov/government/departments/planning-inspection/planning-division/ceqa-documents
Additionally, these two public meetings have been announced:
October 20, 6:30-8:00 pm
Hilton Santa Clara, 4949 Great America Pkwy
October 26, 6:30-8:00 pm
Santa Clara Senior Center, 1301 Fremont Street
Some info about City Place:
-Santa Clara project on landfill, requiring an almost $1B platform to be built
-9.2M sqft development
-6.7M sqft office space
-1.1M sqft retail
-1,360 residential units
-700 hotel rooms
-250,000 sqft food and beverage
-190,000 sqft entertainment
-approx. 5x the size of Santana Row
In my opinion, we are fortunate to have a quality company like Related interested in doing something this extraordinary in our area. They are headquartered in NYC and are currently constructing the single largest private development project in the history of the United States called Hudson Yards in NYC (www.hudsonyardsnewyork.com).
The City Place Santa Clara development continues to underscore the massive changes and the level of development dollars flowing into our cities. If you think about how this project relates to the existing and proposed developments (Valley Fair/Santana Row and the Hills at Vallco), you will see three major areas that will attract people... like three sides of a triangle. How will circulation work in the region? How will consumers and workers travel? What infrastructure changes are required to make a configuration like this work in the Bay Area without grinding everything to a halt? What will our quality of life be like?
My suggestion: Embrace the growth so we can find ways to positively influence projects underway and planned. If we continue to come together as a larger community, think how effective we can be at helping shape the outcomes, rather than expending our energy trying to stop growth. The right kinds of developments can make our communities and quality of life better. Change at this scale is scary, but it doesn't have to be if we stay informed, engaged, and active in the process.
If we modify our approach to, in essence, partner with the development community, I believe we can be an integral part of solutions to the challenges that are upon us. Solutions require participation and respecting each other’s needs, and the needs of the area.
As always, I encourage thoughtful discussion and outreach. Please forward to others who might have an interest.
Kind regards,
-Kirk
EIR Document for the City Place Santa Clara – Related Santa Clara project:
http://santaclaraca.gov/government/departments/planning-inspection/planning-division/ceqa-documents
Related Santa Clara: www.relatedsantaclara.com
The Hills at Vallco: www.thehillsatvallco.com
Westfield Valley Fair: www.westfield.com/valleyfair/development/vision
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