Activists Envision A More Attractive, Walkable San Jose

March 8, 2012 8:17 PM

Aerial view of the city, San Jose (David McNew/Getty Images)

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SAN JOSE (KCBS) – When it comes to urban design, San Jose lacks any standout landmark and has too few walkable neighborhoods, according to a new civic group devoted to smart growth.

“We think San Jose has a lot of potential, and it’s always been a belief of mine that we should be the center of the South Bay. We should be the cultural center,” said Leah Toeniskoetter, director of SPUR San Jose.

The San Francisco Planning and Urban Renewal Association launched its foray in the South Bay Thursday with a message that urban planning is critical as the city’s population grows over the next 30 years.

KCBS’ Mike Colgan Reports:

Activists Envision A More Attractive, Walkable San Jose

“A lot of who I’ve talked to want to live downtown. They want to live in one of our urban villages, one of our wonderful neighborhoods. They want to live somewhere where they don’t have to necessarily get in their car to get what they need,” Toeniskoetter said.

She envisions a city filled with impressive architecture that does a better job connecting treasures many in the Bay Area do not realize exist in San Jose.

“We have what I believe is the third largest Portuguese community in the United States, and nobody really knows that. We have Japantown, which is kind of a hidden gem,” she said.

The organization is looking for committed volunteers who want to get involved in shaping a future for the city that has plenty of room for transit, biking and walking.

smketr

What Toeniskoetter is really talking about is “Envision San Jose 2040″. You can read all about it on the city’s website. As to why the director of “SPUR” did not call by name the 800 lb. gorilla in the room, I guess you would have to ask her. And what about all those people that want to live downtown? Really? Who? And finally, I wholeheartedly disagree that San Jose lacks a “standout landmark”. What about the $500,000 statue of the “Plumed Serpent” in Plaza de Cesar Chavez park? Just as a side note, many people think it really looks like a huge pile of dog pooh, but there is no accounting for taste when your spending other people’s money.