Last week San José played host to hundreds of out-of-towners for the West Coast Urban District Forum, organized by the San José Downtown Association, California Downtown Association (CDA) and the International Downtown Association (IDA). The theme – Leading in Transformative Times –explored strategies needed to sustain and grow strong communities with an equity lens in retail, office market, public safety, homelessness and mental health, while creating opportunities for networking and sharing best practices.

Rick Jensen, Communications Director with the San José Downtown Association, shared with us a bit about his experience in the below guest blog post.

Kathleen Rawson has more than 30 years of experience in hospitality and place management, spending the past 25 years in Santa Monica and now the Hollywood Entertainment business improvement district. Rawson was in downtown San José in late March for a conference focused on downtown revitalization with more than 200 representatives of business districts along the West Coast. 

With a wealth of knowledge, she participated on the opening two panels of the conference, one focused on managing change, the other on downtown retail rejuvenation.

As communications director for San José Downtown Association, my assignment was to get perspectives of our downtown from the out-of-downtowners. I caught up with her when the sun was still out but shadows were getting long, as she exited one networking mixer for another meet-up.

She agreed to a four-block walk in which she offered her real-time observations and insights in about 10-minutes.

We started outside Guildhouse on South First Street in the SoFA arts district, an ample space that comfortably fit the networking party as well as the regular weekly crowd for Super Smash Brothers Melee Night of video games and Warhammer miniatures games.

She navigated the route with her phone. Heading up South First, she admitted that she had only been to downtown San Jose once before but long ago.

Me: “Notice our jacarandas? Where do you think San José  got the idea to plant them here?”

Rawson: “Santa Monica,” she replied.

Me: “I’ve always heard it was Hollywood Boulevard.” Rawson nodded: “Both places have them. Look how nicely trimmed they are.”

Me: “The property owners wanted to make sure people could see the beautiful facades of the historic buildings along the street and the businesses wanted their customers to be able to see their signs.”

Turning onto San Salvador Street, she looked ahead and noticed the Convention Center.

Rawson: “Many cities suffer from the same issues that San José  has. They are dependent on convention business.”

Me: “The hotels are.”

Rawson: “The sidewalks are very well-kept. Nice and clean.”

Rawson: “You have freeways with encampments underneath. That’s such a tough thing for all cities.”

“The other things most downtowns have in common is they want to increase their density and be more accessible to everyone.”

I pointed out that we were walking past 360 Residences (at 360 S. Market St.) at the time. A family walked by in the opposite direction.”

“If I were Queen Zarinaia, I would double down on housing, and make sure some of it is affordable so that the people who work downtown can also live here.”

We waited for the light to turn at the Market-San Carlos streets intersection, with the host hotel on one corner and Plaza de Cesar Chavez – downtown’s central park -- across the way.

Rawson: “I’m not seeing any homeless. I’m guessing you could show me where they are?”

Me: “I could.”

Rawson: “To me, this is an example of where rhetoric and reality don’t jive. I’m not seeing it here– at least, not like you see it in other cities. If I worked here, I’d put out a rallying cry. Find a crowd of people in common dialog who are empowered to go out and tell your story.”

A half-block later, we passed United Food & Commercial Workers Union, Local 5’s offices and saw stacks of folded cardboard boxes in the alcove entrance to the office. Rawson:

“They have made them to be like rooms – and neat.”

Outside The Grill in the Alley on Paseo de San Antonio, she motioned that we had arrived at her next stop. She provided a few more insights.

Rawson: “Get some government intervention. Find a way to create more places where you can get a cup of coffee. And build equity and diversity. San José has more to celebrate than worry about.”

A few more comments about downtown San José  from other conference attendees:

• Seattle: “All of the art on the streets is incredible. I'd walk through this area even if there weren't businesses. It's like an outdoor art gallery.”
  
  
• Vacaville, Ca.: “I see a downtown with a lot of hotels, some tech, lacking middle development -- housing and smaller commercial -- and a lively downtown of restaurants and businesses. I can see its potential -- it just takes time.”
  
  
• Seattle: “I can tell there is a lot of effort going into the downtown and that the city is involved in making it a place where people want to be. San José is on its way.

Visit the San José Downtown Association website for more information on Downtown establishments, activities and programs.