Willow Glen and The PlantToday’s SJ Mercury Business Section highlighted the upcoming development of “The Plant,” the former General Electric property on the corner of Curtner Avenue & Monterey Highway (”Retail center planned for old S.J. GE plant site“) that will become a “power” shopping center anchored by Target, Best Buy, and a Home Depot (among many others).

It’s not exactly news, but it is a reminder of what’s to come. The City of San Jose’s permit process has mostly run its course. The new center is in-line with the City’s 2020 General Plan, having been specifically addressed previously (General Plan 2003 Amendment - PDF).

The new location brings big box retail to a part of San Jose that doesn’t have such convenience … and it also happens to be closer to WG than other recent developments (less than 3 miles from the farthest stretches of the neighborhood … about the same as the new Kohl’s at Hamilton & Highway 17 in Campbell).

Addressing other issues, San Jose’s powerful and active Preservation Action Council has been tracking this project, and seems to be pleased with the protection provided to the “Streamline Moderne GE Office Building” (See their Winter 2005 Newsletter, page 8-9 - PDF). It will become a mixed retail and office complex, and the architecture of the entire project will reflect the same art moderne style.

Recent WGx posts in Local Impact

Recent WGx posts in The Plant is Growing