Strategic Focus: Silicon Valley's Urban Core

Desired outcome: A thriving social, cultural and economic hub that:

• looks and feels like Silicon Valley's City Center
• attracts a creative and multicultural workforce
• provides an urban living option for Silicon Valley residents; and
• invites business incubation and expansion

Why it is important: A vibrant downtown San Jose fuels the economy, appeals to the breadth and depth of our global talent base, and helps to create a sense of place in Silicon Valley.

What we have done: A group of creative people crafted a Vision (PDF 13MB) for transforming downtown San Jose into Silicon Valley's City Center and inspired a network of leaders to steward its realization. And that journey to vibrancy is well underway as evidenced by Key Milestones to Date and Downtown Vision Matrix.

Priorities for 2009:

• Demonstrate the principles of the Downtown Vision in three block area of SoFA (South First Area) through physical transformation and activation of spaces (View plan - PDF 3MB)
• Explore 5 key drivers to activating downtown San Jose

• Role of San Jose State
• Use of cultural facilities
• Recruitment of downtown tenants
• Enhancement to San Jose's brand
• Rebirth of a live music scene

• Seize partnership opportunities to advance Downtown's Big Deals

If you have any questions or for more information, please direct your inquiry to Erika Justis, Director of Creative Place at ejustis@1stact.org