No, it’s not open yet … but there might be light at the end of the exit ramp. Maybe.

In fact it might open today, but we’ve heard that one before … Crews are installing bright orange pylon for lane control this morning, so maybe … keep your fingers crossed …

This long-delayed ramp project has been on WGx’s radar for a while now, and has become a hot topic on the SJ Mercury’ Mr. Roadshow column … although promises made to Gary Richards this past week have not come true:

Q Any news on when the off-ramp from southbound Almaden Expressway to Curtner Avenue will open? It’s taken almost a year to complete this. … Jerry Tanner, Dina Jacobsen and so many more

A Finally, good news. On Friday, traffic officials hope to open the free right-turn lane from the exit onto westbound Curtner. And the traffic signal could be activated on Oct. 3, which means the entire ramp will be ready and drivers can then make left turns onto Curtner.

Did it open for westbound traffic? No.

An earlier update from the Roadshow column blames the problem on PG&E, by the way:

Q When will the Almaden Expressway off-ramp to Curtner Avenue reopen? It was only supposed to be closed six weeks (which I never believed!). It’s been paved and painted and lights are in place. But nada. Meanwhile, I’m forced to drive a little further to get home and have to use a dangerous intersection at Almaden Road and Canoas Garden instead of a couple of quick and easy right turns. … Penny Bowen and many more

A You have a right to be steamed, as this work is taking far too long. The new ramp may open in two or three weeks. PG&E says it needs that long to power up the new traffic signal. The county is hoping to open up the free-right turn onto Curtner before the signal is ready. Alas, you’ll have to stay tuned.

But maybe today. At least westbound. Maybe.

There’s a hustle of road repaving and signal upgrading all around Willow Glen today. Add extra time for your driving needs.

Old Almaden Road at Malone is getting the potentially-final touches on its upgrade, just in time for the partial opening of the Almaden Walk condo project.

Meanwhile, Meridian Avenue south of Curtner is in the middle of a major repaving project that will last a few months. The street is getting regraded and will have shiny new asphalt like portions of Curtner got a few months ago. No word on new fire hydrants.

Further east, crews are working on the signal lights at Curtner and Little Orchard, near the gateway to The Plant, which now boasts dining locations such as Rubio’s, a new Starbucks, a Chevy’s, and a convenient Panera.

WGx can’t help but wonder why one of those road crews can’t wonder over to Curtner and Almaden Expresway to spend about ten minutes finishing the exit ramp from the southbound side of the Expressway. But, no … that project will probably drag on for a full year …

It’s probably too far away from WG to mean much to us yet, but Santa Clara County is moving forward with its plan for a mixed-use development on the site of County Fairgrounds.

The SJ/SV Business Journal reports that the development team includes several Bay Area companies:

Catellus Development Group said it was selected as the preferred developer for a major new mixed-use project in San Jose on the site of the county fairgrounds. …

The company said its preliminary vision for this project incorporates a network of streets and paths that encourage walking and cycling, office and retail buildings that feature green building technology, community gathering places and parks, and affordable housing.

The county will host two community open houses at the Fairgrounds prior to the Board of Supervisors workshop on Aug. 26 to introduce the recommended developer to the community. The open houses will be Wednesday, Aug. 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. and Thursday, Aug. 21 from 5 to 7 p.m.

The project won’t be terribly visible from WG, but might lead to some traffic impact for those using the Curtner Exit from Highway 87. You also have to figure that the stores and restaurants at The Plant will appreciate the extra business.

It also remains to be seen if the Fairgrounds redevelopment will out pace the Almaden-to-Curtner exit ramp project, and be completed first.

The new ramp from southbound Almaden Expressway to Curtner Avenue has been moving forward with fits and stops over the last few weeks.

The project – which was originally slated to be complete back in January … then in March – is at that tantalizing stage where you can imagine your car on the freshly paved ramp, but still have to wait for the final touches.

When it’s complete, drivers will have the option of continuing west on Curtner — as they always have — or turn left at the new light-controlled intersection. Since limited access to eastbound Curtner has never been a problem before, one wonders why a left turn is required now … after 46 years of expressway-hood.

All those drivers trying to get to The Plant? New homeowners on Communication Hill who need to drive their cars to work? Or maybe it solve the challenging dilemma of getting to southbound Highway 87 from southbound Almaden Expressway, which was previously nearly impossible.

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Speaking of Highway 87, WGx now features local traffic reports from the major freeways that circle Willow Glen. Checkout the SigAlert update in the light-blue column, or click to the new “WGx News & Traffic” page, and scroll all the way down …

WGx knows what you’re thinking … How many more bad puns can “The Plant” inspire?

And now the latest … retail offshoots of the Plan will undoubtedly follow as landowners across the street and down the block from the “power” shopping center seek to capitalize on the soon-to-be-fully-grown shopping center. Before The Plant even reaches its mature growth status, new plants will try to steal the retail center’s nutrients.

Enough Already … but there are a bunch of new rezoning applications on the City’s online permit database, including large plots across the street and almost the entire block southeast of Tully & Monterey Road south to Old Tully Road.

Intriguing coincidences in the local hardware store industry …

Willow Glen ACE opened its doors this week, almost simultaneously with the opening of the new Home Depot at The Plant. That’s two new hardware options for Willow Glen residents within 2 miles of each other, and essentially on the same street, too. While Ace’s opening was more relaxed — and perhaps a bit ahead of schedule — the Home Depot hits town with a splashy two-page ad in today’s local section of the Mercury News, complete with special pricing good at this store only.

Invites a bit of comparison shopping doesn’t it …. Anyone need anything?

Just like Mother Nature took advantage of the sunny weather last week – daffodils are out! – so too have construction crews around WG. Work at The Plant retail plaza also moved along at breakneck speed last week, with a few new stores getting ready to open at the corner of Curtner Avenue & Monterey Highway.

Here’s the latest update:

Already Completely Open: Target, Best Buy, PetSmart, and OfficeMax (although most are still celebrating their “Grand Opening” with mail-home coupons and other ongoing promotions)

Just Opened: Toys ‘R’ Us and Babies ‘R’ Us have opened side-by-side along the northern edge of the site, opposite Curtner. “Better Together” declares the “Now Open” banner, although neither store appears on the company’s store locater website just yet.

Coming Soon: Justice, Jamba Juice, Sleep Train, Bath & Body Works, Rubios, Payless Shoe Source, Washington Mutual, and Ross. … OK, these retailers haven’t exactly been keeping a secret, but their storefront signs now reveal their exact locations within the shopping center. Look for them to be open soon, too

And, Now Hiring: The Home Depot (Opening at The Plant in April)

It’s crunch time for Christmas gift-giving … and The Plant comes to the rescue!

As a handy consumer tip, WGx is pleased to report that the OfficeMax on the corner of Curtner & Monterey opens this weekend, just two shopping days before Christmas! That’s right, you can run out to buy your last-minute office supplies bright and early Sunday morning, December 23.

As an extra bonus tip, the Target @ The Plant is almost certainly the least-busy red-circled retailer in the area, if you can’t handle the crowds at the more established locations. And the Best Buy at the same site is much easier for WG residents to get to, as opposed to the traffic-jam inducing Almaden & 85 location.

It’s been a while since WGx talked about “The Plant” that’s growing just a little bit east of Willow Glen. It’s San Jose’s next big retail center, yet it hasn’t really been getting a lot of attention recently.

Construction continues on the site, and the layout is visible even to the casual drive-by. WGx doubts that very many of your neighbors drive east on Curtner on a regular basis, but the developers (California’s Westrust) certainly hope that will change:

This new 645,000 square foot mixed use Power / Lifestyle / Office center on 55.4 acres is the largest power center ever developed in the City of San Jose’s history. The Plant will feature an 11-anchor power center with tenants such as Target, Home Depot, Best Buy, OfficeMax, Babies R Us, Toys R Us, and PETsMART. A major lifestyle Town Square with a .75-acre central park features casual food tenants amongst eight buildings. The site also includes the historic renovation off the General Electric Motor Plan Office Headquarters building. Construction commenced in October 2006 and will open in Fall of 2007.

This is the same company that developed the new Nut Tree facility in Vacaville, along with a large number of mega-power-lifestyle galaxy-class money-sucking-blackhole shopping centers across other parts of California, Arizona, and even Hawaii.

Although, don’t bet on that Fall opening date …

Today’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.