WGNA Approves Position Paper on Google, October 2018
At the Board and Membership Meeting of the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association (WGNA) on October 11, 2018, the board members issued a position paper to Mayor Sam Liccardo, and the City of San José's Planning Department, supporting the Google Campus proposal & Diridon Station Area Plan.
The paper relates to the project on the Diridon Station Area Plan and Google, the Silicon Valley technology company that intends to develop a major transit-oriented campus in the core of the city, expanding the present-day downtown San José. This potential mixed-use master plan development includes offices, residences, retail shops, restaurants, and open spaces, and it's estimated that Google will employ 15,000 to 20,000 people.
On September 13, 2018, the representatives from Google visited with the City of San José in the Willow Glen neighborhood to tell us more about its plans, and how that fits in with the City of San José's Diridon Station Area projects. See that news story here, as well as in the below page flip in this article.
The WGNA position paper was endorsed by the WGNA Board and reads in part:
The Willow Glen Neighborhood Association (WGNA) would like to offer our support and endorsement for the Google Village project in the Diridon Station area in San Jose. As you may know, WGNA – the oldest neighborhood association in San Jose celebrated 45th anniversary in 2018 -- was established for the sole purpose of creating a stronger and more tightly-knit neighborhood. Our Board of Directors is comprised of established professionals with expertise in various fields, including, but not limited to, public safety, education, land development, small business and many more, with the ultimate goal to keep residents informed on a range of topics pertinent to the life in Willow Glen and to act as an agent of positive change by getting involved in advocacy activities on behalf of our members.
WGNA's October 2018 Meeting with Mayor Liccardo
Meet San José Mayor Sam Liccardo
— on the next WGNA Board & Membership Meeting, October 11th, 2018
You are invited to come and meet Mayor Sam Liccardo, hear his address, and participate in the public discussion.
We are hosting an open house and community address on the next Board & Membership Meeting of the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association - WGNA.
Join us at 7:00 to 9:00 PM on October 11th, 2018 at Willow Glen United Methodist Church.
The church is located at 1420 Minnesota and Newport Avenues, across from the Willow Glen Library.
Note that WGNA meetings typically occur on the second Thursday of the month.
See Mayor Liccardo's web page at http://www.sanjoseca.gov/mayor
#SanJoseCA #SiliconValley #WGNAsj #MayorLiccardo #WillowGlen
For a review or download of the meeting agenda, please see the dedicated page at http://www.wgna.net/meeting_agendas
September 2018 Meeting & Presentation
The proposed Google Campus
and Diridon Station Area Plan,
a Guest Speaker Presentation
by the City of San Jose
— on the next WGNA Board & Membership Meeting for September 13th
The guest speaker at our next meeting will be the City of San José presenting on the topic of the Diridon Station Area Plan and Google, the Silicon Valley technology company that intends to develop a major transit-oriented campus in the core of the city, expanding the present-day downtown San José. This potential mixed-use master plan development includes offices, residences, retail shops, restaurants and open spaces, and it's estimated that Google will employ 15,000 to 20,000 people. The company will visit with the City of San José in the Willow Glen neighborhood to tell us more about its plans, and how that fits in with the City of San José's Diridon Station Area projects.
The City of San José and the greater Bay Area region have the unique opportunity to build an internationally prominent transportation center and to develop a superb destination within the area around the Diridon Station.
Information related to the Station Area Advisory Group ("SAAG"), including meeting agendas, minutes, and videos, are posted to this website. To view these items, please click on the tab to the left, labeled "Station Area Advisory Group".
Lori Severino*, Civic Engagement Program Manager for the Diridon Station Area, will be presenting on behalf of City of San Jose, and will provide:
- Background information on the Diridon Station Area, including the main plans that are guiding its development, the planned transit improvements, and the partnership with Google;
- An overview of the City’s community engagement process this year;
- A brief summary of the main input received to date.
On behalf of Google*, a manager of the company's department of Government Affairs & Public Policy will join the city's presentation. Javier González and shall be available to answer questions.
The Google project proposes to be a multi-million-square-foot urban campus in the heart of San José, one of the biggest development projects in the city's history. The prime area of development is the Autumn-Montgomery neighborhood, although it also relates to outlying vicinities like Downtown San José, Lakehouse, Sunol-Midtown, and Auzerais-Josefa.
We are also interested in how the flow of development will connect to neighborhoods like our own Willow Glen, as well as to nearby Burbank, College Park, and North San José.
Change of Meeting Location:
The Next WGNA Board and Membership Meeting will occur on the second Thursday, September 13, 2018, at the Willow Glen United Methodist Church, located at 1420 Newport Avenue, on the corner of Minnesota Avenue. This is just across the street from our usual location at the Willow Glen Public Library. Join us at 7:00 PM for this open house meeting. For updated information, please return to the website at a closer time to the event.
*Update: Kim Walesh, Deputy City Manager, Director of Economic Development presented on behalf of City of San Jose, not Lori Severino.
On behalf of Google, managers of the company's department of Government Affairs & Public Policy joined the city's presentation. Javier González was not present.