Google eyes hundreds of downtown San Jose homes over transit station site

Google intends to build several hundred homes on a downtown San Jose parcel atop the proposed site of a future BART station near the existing Diridon transit hub, public records show.

The development would occur on a parcel whose addresses include 574 W. Santa Clara St. that is across the street from the SAP entertainment and sports center, according to documents posted by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.

"Up to 500 units of high-rise residential in air rights development above the Diridon BART station with 18,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, commercial and service use" are the key components of the Google project, the VTA documents show.

It's well-known that Google is planning a mixed-use neighborhood of office buildings, homes, shops, restaurants, hotel facilities, entertainment hubs and cultural sites on the western edges of downtown San Jose near the Diridon train station.

The search giant expects to employ up to 20,000 workers in the transit-oriented village, which is called Downtown West.

What hasn't been disclosed in detail is how much square footage or how many residential units Google might develop at any particular parcel in the Downtown West project.

That's because Google has yet to file with San Jose planners specific development proposals for particular sites.

In this case, Google wants to obtain from VTA air rights to develop a project over the location of the future underground BART stop on West Santa Clara Street near the Diridon train station, the transit documents show.

Up to 125 parking spaces would be included in the residential and retail development.

Plus, affordable homes are expected to be part of the project, according to the VTA records.

"Such a project would need to include at least 20% of the units affordable to low- and very-low-income households as set forth in VTA's affordable housing policy," the VTA stated.