This transit-oriented development (TOD) will be an approximately 12 acre property owned by VTA adjacent to the future 28th Street/Little Portugal BART Station (the first of four station in BART Silicon Valley’s Phase II expansion). The property is located on N. 28th Street between E. St. James and Five Wounds Lane, and in the old Union Pacific right-of-way between E. Santa Clara Street and E. Julian Street.
This land has the potential for mixed-used developments with activated ground floor uses that increase transit ridership, catalyze other equitable developments, and help provide revenue for transit capital investments and operations. Projects that are transit-oriented allow people to live and work near public transportation, which helps clear the air, ease traffic, and adds infrastructure investments to the community.
VTA's Transit-Oriented Development Program works with municipal, non-profit, and private partners to encourage the development of housing, retail, and employment centers in places that will help increase transit ridership and contribute to a vibrant community.
This project aligns with the BART Silicon Valley Phase II extension.
Design Development Framework
VTA is developing a Design Development Framework (DDF) that will guide the vision of future real estate development proposals at the site. The final DDF will be used by VTA and stakeholders to evaluate developer proposals and designs for transit-oriented developments on VTA-owned property. The transit-oriented community (TOC) vision outlined in the DDF is based on feedback from stakeholder engagement and community outreach facilitated throughout 2023 and 2024.
This project site is located within the City of San José's Five Wounds Urban Village Plan, which is being updated through 2025 and will influence any development on this site. The DDF and the City’s Urban Village update will work in concert to promote equitable and inclusive TOD in the station area.
Notice of Public Comment Period |
The public is encouraged to provide comments on the content of the draft DDF. The public comment period will be open from August 14 to September 18.
Download the draft DDF to review the document. Copies will also be available for reference at the East San José Carnegie Branch Library:
- Draft Design Development Framework – (English)
- Borrador de diseño del marco de desarrollo– (Spanish)
- Dự thảo Khung Phát triển Thiết kế – (Vietnamese)
VTA accepts written comments via online form, regular mail, or email:
| Online Form: | Submit Comment |
| Email: | TOD@vta.org |
| Mail: | VTA TOD Program Attn: Christina Philip 3331 North First Street, Bldg. A San Jose, CA 95134 |
The information you provide is voluntary and may be subject to disclosure pursuant to the California Public Records Act.
Supporting Documents
The following DDF studies and memoranda provide further analysis that contributed to the concept vision and principles.
- Appendix A: Market Study
- Appendix B: TOD Framework Memo
- Appendix C: Sustainability Memo
- Appendix D: Project Context Memo
- Appendix E: Engagement Summary
- Appendix F: Placemaking Memo
- Appendix G: Parcel Plan Evolution
- Appendix H: Plaza Comparisons
VTA will post supporting documents as they becomes available. Translations will be provided upon request at no charge.
Public Meeting
VTA invites community members to a public meeting for the draft DDF. This meeting will include a presentation on the draft DDF, followed by an opportunity for attendees to ask questions and provide comments.
Thursday, August 28, 2025
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
East San José Carnegie Branch Library
1102 East Santa Clara Street, San Jose, CA 95116
Please register in advance to receive email reminders and project updates at 28LPDDF.eventbrite.com.
Attendance at the public meeting is not required to submit comments on the content of the draft DDF.
Spanish and Vietnamese interpretation will be provided at the meeting. For other language services or accommodations, contact VTA Community Outreach at (408) 321-7575, TTY (408) 321-2330, or email community.outreach@vta.org by August 22, 2025.
Little Portugal |
|||
 Highlight cultural identity and address disparities |
 Encourage new development that is both economically successful and grounded in place |
 Make walking, biking, and taking transit the preferred mobility experiences |
|
Guide to Development |
|||
Station Access Study
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) initiated a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Access Study to analyze multi-modal access and circulation to and from the 28th Street/Little Portugal TOD site. The 28th Street/Little Portugal Transit-Oriented Development Access Study final report provides proposed access improvements, travel demand management strategies, and cost estimates for the identified access improvements to the proposed TOD project area.
Community Outreach
Outreach in this station area is a coordinated effort among VTA, VTA BART Silicon Valley Phase II, and City of San José outreach teams.
- VTA BART Silicon Valley Phase II
- City of San José Five Wounds Urban Village Plan Outreach & Workshops
Spring 2023 – Season 1
The first season of outreach for the Design Development Framework focused on listening to stories, lived experiences, qualities of place, and opportunities to understand what excited and concerned community members about future development.
Past Meetings
COMMUNITY POP-UPS
- El Rancho Verde Apartments Town Hall (with Vietnamese translator) 5-24-23
- Dia De Portugal 6-10-23
- Viva Calle, Roosevelt neighborhood 6-11-23
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
- San José Youth Commission 5-22-23
- Cristo Rey San José 5-31-23
STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS
- April through June 2023
Arts & culture and community-based organizations, Cristo Rey San José, East San José Carnegie Branch Library, Five Wounds Portuguese National Parish, Five Wounds Urban Village Plan Small Businesses, Greater St. John Baptist Church, IES Hall, Rocketship Discovery Prep, San José Mobile Home Park
The display boards are available to download.
Fall 2023 – Season 2
The second season of outreach (Fall 2023) engaged community members around the concept vision and specific opportunities it could unlock for the public realm. The goal was to refine ideas based on preferences and build trust by thoughtfully incorporating input from the previous season.
Past Meetings
COMMUNITY POP-UPS
- Viva Parks, Mayfair neighborhood (with Spanish translator) 8-22-23
- El Rancho Verde Apartments Community Meeting (with Vietnamese translator) 8-23-23
- Mexican Heritage Plaza: Chile, Mole, Pozole Festival (with Spanish translator) 9-16-23
- Five Wounds Urban Village Plan Workshop 3 at Mexican Heritage Plaza (with Spanish & Vietnamese translators) 9-21-23
- VTA Visionary Network Open House at Roosevelt Community Center 9-27-23
- Mayfair Golden Manor Resource Fair 10-24-23
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
- San José High School 9-21-23
- San José Youth Commission 9-25-23
- Cristo Rey High School 10-12-23
STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS
- September to October 2023
Arts & culture and community-based organizations, Cristo Rey San José, Five Wounds Portuguese National Parish, IES Hall
The display boards are available to download.
2024-2025 – Season 3
A third season of outreach is underway to gather feedback on the draft DDF. Please contact us at community.outreach@vta.org if you have an event in August or September 2025 that you would be interested in having VTA present about the draft DDF.
COMMUNITY POP-UP
- Viva CalleSJ, Watson Park 9-7-25
PUBLIC MEETING
- Thursday, August 28, 2025
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
East San José Carnegie Branch Library
1102 East Santa Clara Street, San Jose, CA 95116
Please register in advance to receive email reminders and project updates at 28LPDDF.eventbrite.com.
Spanish and Vietnamese interpretation will be provided at the meeting. For other language services or accommodations, contact VTA Community Outreach at (408) 321-7575, TTY (408) 321-2330, or email community.outreach@vta.org by August 22, 2025.
Past Meetings
In tandem with the BART Silicon Valley 28th Street/Little Portugal station configuration outreach referred by the VTA Board of Directors in mid-2024, several interim touchpoints were scheduled:
- Viva CalleSJ Pop-Up, Roosevelt Park neighborhood 9-8-24
- BART Silicon Valley 28th Street Community Meeting 8-21-24
The display boards are available to download.
Transit-Oriented Communities Playbook
The 28th Street/Little Portugal Transit-Oriented Communities Playbook was endorsed by the San José City Council in 2019.
Development Opportunities
Learn more about VTA's Portfolio of TOD Opportunities.
This transit-oriented development (TOD) will be an approximately 12 acre property owned by VTA adjacent to the future 28th Street/Little Portugal BART Station (the first of four station in BART Silicon Valley’s Phase II expansion). The property is located on N. 28th Street between E. St. James and Five Wounds Lane, and in the old Union Pacific right-of-way between E. Santa Clara Street and E. Julian Street.
This land has the potential for mixed-used developments with activated ground floor uses that increase transit ridership, catalyze other equitable developments, and help provide revenue for transit capital investments and operations. Projects that are transit-oriented allow people to live and work near public transportation, which helps clear the air, ease traffic, and adds infrastructure investments to the community.
VTA's Transit-Oriented Development Program works with municipal, non-profit, and private partners to encourage the development of housing, retail, and employment centers in places that will help increase transit ridership and contribute to a vibrant community.
This project aligns with the BART Silicon Valley Phase II extension.
Design Development Framework
VTA is developing a Design Development Framework (DDF) that will guide the vision of future real estate development proposals at the site. The final DDF will be used by VTA and stakeholders to evaluate developer proposals and designs for transit-oriented developments on VTA-owned property. The transit-oriented community (TOC) vision outlined in the DDF is based on feedback from stakeholder engagement and community outreach facilitated throughout 2023 and 2024.
This project site is located within the City of San José's Five Wounds Urban Village Plan, which is being updated through 2025 and will influence any development on this site. The DDF and the City’s Urban Village update will work in concert to promote equitable and inclusive TOD in the station area.
Notice of Public Comment Period |
The public is encouraged to provide comments on the content of the draft DDF. The public comment period will be open from August 14 to September 18.
Download the draft DDF to review the document. Copies will also be available for reference at the East San José Carnegie Branch Library:
- Draft Design Development Framework – (English)
- Borrador de diseño del marco de desarrollo– (Spanish)
- Dự thảo Khung Phát triển Thiết kế – (Vietnamese)
VTA accepts written comments via online form, regular mail, or email:
| Online Form: | Submit Comment |
| Email: | TOD@vta.org |
| Mail: | VTA TOD Program Attn: Christina Philip 3331 North First Street, Bldg. A San Jose, CA 95134 |
The information you provide is voluntary and may be subject to disclosure pursuant to the California Public Records Act.
Supporting Documents
The following DDF studies and memoranda provide further analysis that contributed to the concept vision and principles.
- Appendix A: Market Study
- Appendix B: TOD Framework Memo
- Appendix C: Sustainability Memo
- Appendix D: Project Context Memo
- Appendix E: Engagement Summary
- Appendix F: Placemaking Memo
- Appendix G: Parcel Plan Evolution
- Appendix H: Plaza Comparisons
VTA will post supporting documents as they becomes available. Translations will be provided upon request at no charge.
Public Meeting
VTA invites community members to a public meeting for the draft DDF. This meeting will include a presentation on the draft DDF, followed by an opportunity for attendees to ask questions and provide comments.
Thursday, August 28, 2025
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
East San José Carnegie Branch Library
1102 East Santa Clara Street, San Jose, CA 95116
Please register in advance to receive email reminders and project updates at 28LPDDF.eventbrite.com.
Attendance at the public meeting is not required to submit comments on the content of the draft DDF.
Spanish and Vietnamese interpretation will be provided at the meeting. For other language services or accommodations, contact VTA Community Outreach at (408) 321-7575, TTY (408) 321-2330, or email community.outreach@vta.org by August 22, 2025.
Little Portugal |
|||
|
Highlight cultural identity and address disparities |
Encourage new development that is both economically successful and grounded in place |
Make walking, biking, and taking transit the preferred mobility experiences |
|
Guide to Development |
|||
Station Access Study
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) initiated a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Access Study to analyze multi-modal access and circulation to and from the 28th Street/Little Portugal TOD site. The 28th Street/Little Portugal Transit-Oriented Development Access Study final report provides proposed access improvements, travel demand management strategies, and cost estimates for the identified access improvements to the proposed TOD project area.
Community Outreach
Outreach in this station area is a coordinated effort among VTA, VTA BART Silicon Valley Phase II, and City of San José outreach teams.
- VTA BART Silicon Valley Phase II
- City of San José Five Wounds Urban Village Plan Outreach & Workshops
Spring 2023 – Season 1
The first season of outreach for the Design Development Framework focused on listening to stories, lived experiences, qualities of place, and opportunities to understand what excited and concerned community members about future development.
Past Meetings
COMMUNITY POP-UPS
- El Rancho Verde Apartments Town Hall (with Vietnamese translator) 5-24-23
- Dia De Portugal 6-10-23
- Viva Calle, Roosevelt neighborhood 6-11-23
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
- San José Youth Commission 5-22-23
- Cristo Rey San José 5-31-23
STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS
- April through June 2023
Arts & culture and community-based organizations, Cristo Rey San José, East San José Carnegie Branch Library, Five Wounds Portuguese National Parish, Five Wounds Urban Village Plan Small Businesses, Greater St. John Baptist Church, IES Hall, Rocketship Discovery Prep, San José Mobile Home Park
The display boards are available to download.
Fall 2023 – Season 2
The second season of outreach (Fall 2023) engaged community members around the concept vision and specific opportunities it could unlock for the public realm. The goal was to refine ideas based on preferences and build trust by thoughtfully incorporating input from the previous season.
Past Meetings
COMMUNITY POP-UPS
- Viva Parks, Mayfair neighborhood (with Spanish translator) 8-22-23
- El Rancho Verde Apartments Community Meeting (with Vietnamese translator) 8-23-23
- Mexican Heritage Plaza: Chile, Mole, Pozole Festival (with Spanish translator) 9-16-23
- Five Wounds Urban Village Plan Workshop 3 at Mexican Heritage Plaza (with Spanish & Vietnamese translators) 9-21-23
- VTA Visionary Network Open House at Roosevelt Community Center 9-27-23
- Mayfair Golden Manor Resource Fair 10-24-23
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
- San José High School 9-21-23
- San José Youth Commission 9-25-23
- Cristo Rey High School 10-12-23
STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS
- September to October 2023
Arts & culture and community-based organizations, Cristo Rey San José, Five Wounds Portuguese National Parish, IES Hall
The display boards are available to download.
2024-2025 – Season 3
A third season of outreach is underway to gather feedback on the draft DDF. Please contact us at community.outreach@vta.org if you have an event in August or September 2025 that you would be interested in having VTA present about the draft DDF.
COMMUNITY POP-UP
- Viva CalleSJ, Watson Park 9-7-25
PUBLIC MEETING
- Thursday, August 28, 2025
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
East San José Carnegie Branch Library
1102 East Santa Clara Street, San Jose, CA 95116
Please register in advance to receive email reminders and project updates at 28LPDDF.eventbrite.com.
Spanish and Vietnamese interpretation will be provided at the meeting. For other language services or accommodations, contact VTA Community Outreach at (408) 321-7575, TTY (408) 321-2330, or email community.outreach@vta.org by August 22, 2025.
Past Meetings
In tandem with the BART Silicon Valley 28th Street/Little Portugal station configuration outreach referred by the VTA Board of Directors in mid-2024, several interim touchpoints were scheduled:
- Viva CalleSJ Pop-Up, Roosevelt Park neighborhood 9-8-24
- BART Silicon Valley 28th Street Community Meeting 8-21-24
The display boards are available to download.
Transit-Oriented Communities Playbook
The 28th Street/Little Portugal Transit-Oriented Communities Playbook was endorsed by the San José City Council in 2019.
Development Opportunities
Learn more about VTA's Portfolio of TOD Opportunities.