New Urban Recipe is Density with a Side of Amenity
Landscape architect and urban design specialist SWA, working with artist Norie Sato and the city, has finished key design work ahead of construction on new pocket parks that create a green corridor in San Jose.
SAN JOSE—Google is not the only one bringing energy and more “there there” in downtown. Three new urban parks flanked by housing are adding momentum for one of California’s oldest, largest cities that’s becoming more of a destination every day.
Landscape architect and urban design specialist SWA, working with artist Norie Sato and the city, has finished key design work ahead of construction on these new pocket parks that create a green corridor with linkage to San Pedro Square, and give downtown an attraction some 20 years in the making.
“These urban spaces are a new typology of small parks that pack punch,” Rene Bihan, principal of SWA, tells GlobeSt.com. “Pellier, Bassett and North San Pedro Park are creating key new amenities that will help make downtown even more attractive for residents, office workers and visitors alike. Our goal was to provide physical connectivity in and through downtown, as well as connectivity to San Jose values of nature, history, identity, public life and stewardship.”
The three parks are surrounded by residential projects, and funded by city and other public contributions. Among the major residential projects in the neighborhood are Trumark’s SP78 townhomes, Davidson Plaza Towers, City Heights, Silvery Towers, Starcity Co-living and others. The string of three parks offer a walkable greenway linking to San Pedro Square’s popular shops and cafes, St. James Park and Guadalupe River Park, and are a stone’s throw from Google’s land assemblage around Diridon Station.
“We expect residents of Trumark’s new homes in North San Pedro to use the new parks as part of their extended living space and back yard, whether it’s to relax with a book or enjoy an al fresco lunch or picnic or just take a walk to nearby downtown destinations,” Sandy Richert, sales director for Trumark, tells GlobeSt.com.
The three parks are in an area of San Jose with a rich history and a rapidly developing future. As the North San Pedro community grows, access to green outdoor space is critical to the health and social cohesion of the community.
The first to get underway, Louis Pellier Park, is a half-acre neighborhood park bordered by West St. James, Terrain and Divine streets. It is already a California Historical Landmark.
“There’s a new sense of discovery in San Jose’s history with what we’re doing in Pellier Park, bringing the agricultural origins of Silicon Valley front and center,” Dan Affleck of SWA tells GlobeSt.com. “One result of all the neighborhood meetings and public comment was to honor the significant, lesser-known impact of Louis Pellier on the Santa Clara Valley.”
Pellier Park is the original site of City Gardens, the nursery established in 1850 by French immigrant Pellier. He is credited as a founder of the prune industry throughout the valley with the introduction of the Petite d’Agen French prune in the 1856. At one point, more than 52,000 acres of prune trees thrived throughout San Jose. The park was first dedicated in 1977 as part of San Jose’s 200th birthday, and is now receiving major upgrades for accessibility and enjoyment as well as informational plaques and historic references, GlobeSt.com learns.