Final Project: Google Comes to Downtown San Jose, Pt. 1

In 2017, Alphabet, parent company of Google, and the city of San Jose announced plans for a massive “village” on the western edge of downtown. The plan has since evolved to include up to 25,000 employees in a transit-oriented, mixed-use, tech campus of up to 8 million square feet. Google, keen on a site with multiple transportation options for its employees, chose Diridon Station, which currently services Caltrain, ACE, VTA buses and LRT, and Amtrak—but has plans to accommodate BART and CHSR (maybe) in the next decade, as well.

For San Jose, which has a dramatic job to housing imbalance, Google’s arrival could be a tax revenue boon. The so-called "Google Effect" has already led to a rush of developer land grabs in downtown San Jose, with properties selling for record prices. Additionally, the city’s approach to Google stands in stark contrast to Amazon’s recent HQ2 push, in which the city of New York and state of Virginia offered the tech giant subsidies of over $6 billion to locate in their municipalities. In contrast, Google has spent nearly $320 million on property acquisitions around Diridon, with no subsidies from the city of San Jose.

Though Google’s development plans enjoy the support of the city’s business community and nearly 70% of residents, various interest groups have raised concerns, with some even vowing to block the project. Many residents and advocates are weary of the presence of a company whose median income is a staggering $197,000. Housing and homeless advocates fear it will exacerbate an already critical housing crisis by further inflating prices. Labor advocates, meanwhile, argue that it is the responsibility of Google to guarantee local construction jobs, as well as to maintain high-paying service jobs. Still others are insisting Google invest in everything from the city’s schools to senior citizens. Though Google and the city are determined to see the project through, it will not come to be without overcoming serious objections.

Overview:

For your final research project, you and a partner will examine Google and San Jose’s proposed development in depth. In addition to contextualizing the project, you will examine the impact of the project in three areas of community concern.

Directions:

1. Choose three of the following community concerns:

• Rising housing costs, including rents
• Homelessness
• Traffic mitigation
• Resident displacement
• Gentrification
• Income disparity, including livable wage guarantees for service workers
• Fears of increased density
• Public access to corporate spaces
• A ban on tech campus cafeterias

2. Extensively research these three areas.

3. Create an 18-slide multimedia presentation, using the following guide:

• Slide 1: Cover slide with MLA heading.
• Slide 2: A table of contents
• Slide 3-4: An introduction to the proposed development, this may include timelines, renders, maps, etc.
• Slide 5: An overview of what the city of San Jose stands to gain, financially or otherwise, from the Google development
• Slide 6: A brief overview of community concerns and an introduction to the three you will examine specifically (e.g. housing costs, gentrification, etc.)
• Slides 7-9, 10-12, 13-15: The three areas of community concerns will be explored (including counter positions) in at least two slides each. The third slide should, based upon your team's research, offer a logical solution that both allows the project to proceed and addresses the specific issue.
• Slides 16-17: A conclusion which encapsulates your presentation's main points.
• Slide 18: An MLA Style-formatted works cited slide (or slides)

Your presentation must:

• Have a cohesive design, including illustrations—how does the overall design support the discussion of the issues?
• Contain impeccable spelling and grammar—has your team achieved a professional look?
• Illustrate the benefits of the development to the city of San Jose—why does this project matter to the city so much?
• Contextualize the proposed development—why is what Google and San Jose are proposing so significant?
• Illustrate three specific community concerns—why do these issues matter to the community and what could be down to address them?
• Conclude with a summary of your presentation—why should San Joseans care about this development?

Note: Illustrations and at least two video and/or audio clips are required. No GIFS.

Project Timeline:

Week 13: Thu 4.18
Due: RESEARCH PROJECT OUTLINE (BRING 2 HARD COPIES)

Week 14: Tue 4.23/Thu 4.25
Due: RESEARCH PROJECT (DRAFT 1—BRING ELECTRONIC VERSION)

Week 15: Tue 4.30/Thu 5.2
Due: RESEARCH PROJECT (DRAFT 2—BRING ELECTRONIC VERSION)

Week 16: Fri 5.17 (Both Sections)
Due: THU 5.16- RESEARCH PROJECT (EMAIL BY 5 P.M.)

Sec. 2 Teams:

1. Yu Ju L. / Xiaoguang Y.
2. Erin N. / Brizeida C.
3. Parker S. / Jasmine M.
4. Elizabeth O. / Devin R. / Ryan B.
5. Derek N. / Desteny S.
6. Amanda W. / Jerry Y.
7. Edward H. / Joshua K. 
8. Tiffany N. / Ganna M. / Jasmine K.
9. Vy T. / Murisa B.
10. Billy T. / Minh M. 
11. Jenny N. / Zharoui L.

 Sec. 33:

1. Bryan H. / Shannon D. / Michelle T.
2. Brandon V. / Melanie M.
3. Paulina Y. / Jared M.
4. Brianna P. / Zacharia S.
5. Emmanuel Z. / Debasmita R. / Anthony L.
6. Angel R. / Alexander C.
7. Ryan C. / Jennifer R. / Brenda L.
8. Aryssa T. / Vijay S.
9. Jorge G. / Ashley C.
10. Aryssa F. / Kayla P.
11. Pardeep K. / Collin M. / Asrita B.
12. Billy T.