This urban planning project targets the Tully Road/Eastridge neighborhood of San Jose, plagued by empty parking lots, vacant plazas, abandoned strip malls, and low-density buildings with untapped potential for housing and business opportunities. Amid California’s severe housing shortage, urban sprawl, and inflation pressures on local businesses, we aim to develop an accessible, inclusive, and equitable community plan for this six-lane corridor near Highway 101, transforming it into a vibrant destination. Critical aspects of the project include infrastructure and streetscape enhancements, replacing outdated buildings with attractive, modern structures, and redesigning the streetscape with climate-adapted trees and greenery. We aim to improve transportation infrastructure, making it pedestrian and bike-friendly. Housing and mixed-use development are crucial components, with plans to increase housing density, provide more residential options, and develop mixed-use spaces that combine residential, commercial, and recreational facilities. The project also focuses on commercial and economic revitalization, revitalizing strip malls to boost commercial activity and aesthetic appeal, addressing underutilized plazas, and reducing excess parking areas. These efforts respond to shifts in consumer behavior and remote work trends exacerbated by the post-pandemic landscape. Sustainability and inclusivity are at the heart of the plan, ensuring the community is accessible and equitable for all residents while creating a sustainable environment with architectural strategies, environmental design, and building construction materials.
This project is a good analysis and strategy for sustainability and urban revitalization of a California suburban neighborhood.
– 2024 Urban Design Awards Jury