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Don’t you just love streaming on the Internet – now you can watch the Santa Clara City Council via the web – awesome idea. Very Cool – saves having to go to city hall!
Seems like the city council heard the citizens last night and their concern about the issues that surrounded the proposed building on the old Wheels and Deals site. Congratulations to all the city council, it seemed that none of them in one way or an other were inspired to support the proposed development. The city council recommended that the developer go back to planning and reconsider the plan – especially the back where it shaded the homes behind the complex and the related creek.
The cynical side of me just can’t help but question some of the reasons behind the decision but for the purpose of this exercise I will refrain from making comments.
It does occur to me that why the city didn’t send back the Marina Playa project when there were questions regarding how the traffic would enter and exit that site. I guess it was nothing compared to the big picture of having Marina Playa there on Lawrence Express Way.
Now that the city has set a precident let’s see if they can be consistent. Let’s hope that they continue to listen to neighbors and hear there concerns about high density. Maybe they are starting to think twice about the plannin departments dream to fill the empty space with high rise condos. (By the way – I love Mr Riley talkin about the four story complex on Wheels and Deals – and then the architect admiting it’s actually 5 story) How is that? Such discrepencies should not exsist in planning – might forget to build a floor! oops
Anyway victory to the residents around Wheels and Deals - and Victory to the City Council for taking a stand against developers who don’t consider residents, but don’t feel that because a developer doesn’t sit down with you for an hour that they took the residents concerns into consideration. Or because a developer offers to run a bike path or a creek conversion beside the new complex it doesn’t mean it’s truly something the community wants. I couldn’t think of anything worse – I’d rather a complex that offers a descent cuppa coffee and a newspaper or some WIFI so I can watch our fine council members finally taking a stand against developers who stomp on residents - hope it lasts at least till the Fairfield Residential discussion.
The sad part out of all of this was that here was a great chance to clean up El Camino – something Mr Moore pointed out. Oh well hopefully Mr Moore will do something about this as he continues to be in office after the next election. Good maybe there is hope …. I just hope it’s not more big time developers vs little guys who haven’t got the right PR system behind them. Tip to the Wheels and Deals developer – employee a PR person – they will help you in smoothing the way – and never read a magazine while sitting in Council Chambers – not a good idea. (Good pick up Mrs Mahan)
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
Perhaps my praise of the Grand Boulevard initiative was too hasty! I read an article in the LA Weekly by Zuma Dogg today that makes you start to wonder about the benefits that developers are getting. Which leads me to the question what benefits are developers getting in general when dealing with City Councils?
Zuma Dogg has clearly done some major probe into this whole issue as you can see in his two page article at LA weekly. In fact I would dare say he has done some down and dirty work on discovering the benefits that these developers get. Thank you Zuma – it makes me the Aussie in the Silicon Valley burbs start to see developers differently. I’d seen them as big bad guys but this makes them big bad guys looking for tax concessions while me has no way of avoiding Uncle Sam! Darn it and I thought life was good! I knew that there was money involved but I hadn’t realized it was a two way street – I figured the cities were benefiting from this but appears, according to Zuma if you dig deeper you will find that the cities give developers big tax breaks. Corporate America at its best. No wonder we think of Britain and Australia as a country full of shop keepers and individuals and maybe that’s why I get so peeved by ‘corporate’ agendas.
Zuma commented once here that he should ‘franchise’ his methods – yeh to that. If Zuma is out there showing the little guys how to investigate and understand the big guy even more I’m all for that.
A group of concerned Santa Clara citizens plan to sit down next week and start talking to those people who are showing interest in standing for local government. That group is talking to either those planning to run again or those wishing to run – this group wants to understand peoples platforms before they actually go out there. The group sees the need to let potential candidates be aware that there is ground swell in the community that is not happy with developers and lack of consideration for current residents. Come on who can in their right mind build condominiums and shade neighboring homes 365 days of the year? I ask you who on planning or council can endorse that and say that they are representing their constituents? Who in their right mind can ignores advice from CHP over where a road intersects with a development? Who in their right mind can justify a project of over 800 units just because we are now getting a bike path behind the project? What city ignores the fact that a councilman has received fininacial benefits for his campaign and allows same councilman to vote on projects that the developers wants approved? I guess that would all be the Santa Clara City Council and it’s planning department. Nice one guys – common sense and reason rules the day.
PS I think I’m going to change my tag line to Zuma Puppie.
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
Wow imagine El Camino being considered a Grand Boulevard ? There is an initiative to have 19 cities come together and plan out the Road of the Kings! Even I’m impressed – maybe the House of Pain will have to move to Santana Row?
When I hear the words “Grand Boulevard” I think of Paris or Madrid but not El Camino. If you have been to Paris or Madrid or Berlin you know what a Grand Boulevard looks like. Gorgeous trees, parks as medium strips in the middle of the Boulevard. Fountains running day and night. Statues of Generals on Horses. Change of colors in the flower pots with different seasons. Oh and Traffic …. traffic and more traffic.
I remember when McDonalds came to the Champs Ellesse, Parisians were outraged they refused to go in there. It was some what of an insult to a city that has brought the world Haute Courtier. Anyway I should not be so snobby I think this is a great initiative and probably one that is needed. It’s worth noting that Santa Clara City Council to date has not become involved – perhaps there is just too much work to do in our section of El Camino that they feel they can’t do it yet – they have to fix potholes first.
Anyway take a look at this grand plan and be impressed and then perhaps ask Patricia Mahan why our city is not involved in this initiative. This is an idea to bring people together and work as a team – imagine that Team Work? Working together creating something for the benefit of all people not just a chosen few! I love it! Great Job to the Joint Venture guys!
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
Wheels and Deals was the place where you could park your car and sell it – naturally the company wheels and deals got a commission but the concept I guess was great. Oh, I should say is great because they moved from that large lot in the middle of El Camino near the SaveMart to another spot on El Camino (as I understand it).
So what becomes of that old lot you might ask? I don’t know, ask the planning department – apparently there is a developer who is looking at building …. you guessed it, more luxury condominiums and two stores. This is what is called mixed zoning. The best part about this deal is that the residents behind the proposed complex have been notified about the proposed new complex. Yeah – I guess that’s because their homes are within a 1,000 feet of the project. So the residents quickly gatthered momentum and have a petition going and also seeking advice on how to address this issue.
Issue you might ask? What issue, after all we all want new housing and we all want El Camino cleaned up, don’t we? So doesn’t building “Luxury Condominiums” then address that issue? Sure, but when the residents behind the proposed development realized that thier yards are now to be in permanent shadow from the new buildings I think they have ISSUE.
Imagine a back yard with permanent shade? No sunshine – I guess that is okay if you live in fear of skin cancer.
As I understand it this group has started their own blog and will be taking their concerns to planning and other ‘interested’ parties. I wonder if like Fairfield Residential, Marina Playa and Santa Clara Square they will have their opposition fall on deaf ears?
When residents ask questions of the planning department they department points their finger to city council and when city council is asked questions they point to the planning department. It has a ‘who’s on base’ ring to it. Which leaves us with the question who is profiting from all this new proposed planning in Santa Clara? So who is REALLY doing the Wheels and Deals in Santa Clara – or am I just a cynical white witch?
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
Yesterday evening at the general plan discussions it was mentioned that there should be somewhere for us to go shopping. I had to laugh. I guess what last night brought up for me was that perhaps I am not the only person that notices that apart from cheap utilities Santa Clara really doesn’t have a lot to offer it’s residents. No I take that back – we have some wonderful parks and play grounds (only a mom would know that). We also have a wonderful library and great staff. But as for shopping!
Well I think I should be given a gas allowance by the city because I tend to have to go out of the city to buy my food. When the Safeway on Homestead and Kiely introduced ‘mood’ lighting I knew we were not going to shop there anymore! I’d rather go to 7/11 on Kiely where the teenagers all look like they are hanging out to meet or make a connection!
My gas allowance would allow me to go to Trader Joe’s or Whole paycheck or perhaps the Safeway in Rivermark – but at that safeway it’s really a case of ’spot the parking spot’. Boy there was some deep planning in that puppy when it came to parking! Good one planning commission – make sure the customer waits for his/her parking spot and wasting more gas when you go to the Rivermark Safeway! Perhaps they thought people would walk to the store at Rivermark.
I’m afraid walking to a store is not an American tradition. That, for me, was culture shock when I first came here. I have lived all over the world and mostly in the US have I had the need to drive to a supermarket and stock up. I hear Australia is soon to have it’s first Costco – unlike Americans, Australians use their garages for parking their cars – I wonder how Costco will survive!
Speaking of Costco I do go to the SC Costco – that I might say has had some planning but I’m sure that’s more Costco’s experience in how to build vs the planning departments experience! Good one Costco you win on the parking space award! I can always park at Costco – unfortunately with the price of gas the line there is somewhat longer than normal and causing some inconvenience to shoppers, Costco is not to blame for that though.
I’ve often wondered why we have so many Korean supermarkets in Santa Clara given I’ve only met two Koreans who actually live in Santa Clara – a lot of the ones I’ve met that own business don’t actually live in Santa Clara they just work here.
I have a dream that the current book stores on El Camino in Santa Clara actually become Barnes and Noble or imagine a Keplers! Oh now that’s a little piece of Heaven vs the urban blight that resides there now. How is it something like Keplers that offers knowledge and wisdom has a hard time staying in business when a store that looks like it only sells picture books looks like it’s been on El Camino for 50 years?
And how is that a lot of those questionable stores on El Camino look like that they wouldn’t pass a building inspection? Or don’t they do building inspections after a store opens in this country? hmmm maybe they don’t I don’t know – but aren’t there fire codes and health regulations that are enforced? I guess not otherwise some of those places along El Camino would have been cleaned up by now.
Rick asked why don’t I get involved – well unlike some of the Rich Santa Clara families that run ourcity I have to work for my crust and help raise a family and work towards having them be upstanding citizens – so I hope in time it is them that I can pass the torch to. I’ve done my bit in politics and made a difference and I’m just watching and observing the lack of passion many Americans have for their communities. I wonder if it comes down to the fact that voting here is not compulsory. Imagine compulsory voting? With compulsory voting you need to take an interest in your politics be it local or national – it’s all about your vote.
Once I became a citizen I felt I now had the right to speak out. And so I do … here and with my vote come election day.
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
Well the biggest blow to me this week was learning that one of our neighbors is putting their house on the market in the next couple weeks. Their children spend a lot of time with our kids and my children are very upset, naturally, as am I.
I took some time to talk to them to discover that part of the reason they are leaving is due to the build up of Santa Clara. They are upset by all the building going on around our little neighborhood. Lawarence / El Camino with over 2000 units, the Fairfield Residential with 806 units – it’s enough to scare off anyone. I myself feel like leaving. It’s not as though Santa Clara has a lot to offer, after all let’s look at what it has to offer ,,,,
Schools? hmmm not really – well yes, Milliken sure it’s good, actually great, but you have to apply for it and wait in line and pray you get it. Go to greatschools.com and check out the rest of the Santa Clara schools – Sad very sad – actually disturbing compared to a lot of the neighboring cities.
Amenities? Oh we have a lovely park up on Kiely – Central park but the pond looks like it needs a good clean and though we claim to be a green city why is all the play equipment in need of some major renovating?
International swimming pool – hmm – well it needs work and now the plans for the new one are on hold YET AGAIN! Clearly we don’t need any up grading there otherwise they would have made that available to us now, rather than later. Forget the $400K short of the budget – I bet if the city let residents know about their dreams we’d find a way to raise the money or why not go to a builder and ask for it – that’s how they seem to fix the holes in the budget.
Library – great libary if you can find a place to park near it. Who planned the parking? Obviously our planning department had nothing to do with that…. or did they?
El Camino Real – so enticing – 49 dollar a night meth labs along most of the blocks. A bunch of “book stores” – please enter at own risk! Tattoo stores and a bunch of closed up stores. The once Mervyns Plaza is dying. Which brings us up to Homestead – most of those centers are drying and empty – check out Lawrence Station – the train left years ago and so did all the travelers.
Downtown – sorry what downtown? Oh that’s right – we don’t have one.
ahh yes Santa Clara has a lot to offer
But we do have the best utilities and low in-come housing in the area! great selling point.
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
I remember when I first came here from Australia as a new bride I asked my husband. So where is downtown Santa Clara? You know like downtown Malvern, Toorak, South Yarra or Armadale? You know darling where you can go and have lunch, or do some shopping or have a beer at the end of day? He said “oh it’s down in the old quad”. So when we eventually went to check it out I was still saying “so where is downtown Santa Clara?” He honestly couldn’t tell me – all he could say was ‘you’ll get used to it”. Used to what?
A block of shops / stores that involve a couple of bars, a drycleaners, a stamp shop, a photo store (which is long gone), a well known bakery which closed up shop last year over night and a few other insignificant shops. Sad actually, I guess those that live around the old quad are happy because no-one goes down there and it means it’s a pretty quiet area. How convenient for those that live down that way. I believe that most of the current and past city council members live either in or around the quad. How convenient for them to live in a quiet part of town.
Oh the penny just dropped. I need to move to the old quad area because then I’ll be further away from the hustle and bustle of the soon to be center of Santa Clara, which will be the El Camino / Lawrence intersection where the city has over 2000 residential properties on it’s books for development. Part of their “master plan”. Anyone else heard of a master plan before? Memories of HSC (high school certificate) European History lessons! Kind of creepy!
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
Do you think Santa Clara City Council will ever look at El Camino and notice that it looks different once you leave Sunnyvale?
Have you ever noticed that as you exit Sunnyvale you leave behind the tree lined part of El Camino and the rather large set back? Have you ever noticed that there are no $49 dollar meth labs along that part of El Camino? I don’t think there are any tattoo stores along there either. Perhaps the House of Pain needs to move up a few blocks! Have you ever noticed that there are no after hour porn stores, oops sorry I mean ‘book stores’. Book stores my goodness! Do you think they have a copy of War and Peace in there? It’s no wonder we have a store called “The Starving Musician” along that part of town – how can they make a living in that neighborhood. I hope their rent is low.
As for the couple times I’ve tried to eat along El Camino one time at one of the ‘faster food’ chains I had something in my chili that wasn’t food, and no it wasn’t a finger, rather a sugar wrapper. Another time we were at a restaurant and we asked about the poor state of the salad bar – the waiter told us it was fresh at lunch time – it was now 7pm. We left and that place has sinced closed down. We do like Andy’s though – fortunately they came to town because there are very few good or descent restaurants in Santa Clara. Have you ever tried to take someone out to lunch in Santa Clara it involves going to Cupertino or Sunnyvale.
Imagine with all this high rise building going on we won’t even get anything commercial – which leaves the question why do these developers want to come to Santa Clara? ah’vey – there must be something in it for them – what do we not know?
