We heard you... Play areas, shops, and a food hall are several priority development types you hope to see in your neighborhood. As the BART Silicon Valley Phase II Extension advances the 28th Street/Little Portugal Station construction project, VTA is creating guidelines – called a “design development framework” (DDF) – for future real estate developments taking place around it.

The goals for the 28th Street/Little Portugal DDF are:

•  Culture + Community: Highlight cultural identity and address socioeconomic disparities.
• Urban Fabric + Environment: Encourage new development that is both economically successful and locally grounded.
• Mobility + Connectivity: Make walking, biking, and transit the preferred mobility experiences.

These goals are informed by past planning efforts, interagency collaborations, site conditions, and design research.

Community Engagement to Date

Early community engagement for the DDF has included outreach to a broad group of stakeholders, including future immediate neighbors of the transit station; local public institutions, nonprofit groups, faith-based groups, artists, youth, and community-based organizations; and nearby renters, property owners, and mobile home residents. 

Throughout the spring, over 12 organizations provided input on unique aspects of the neighborhood, visions for how it might look and feel in the future, and opportunities for bringing in businesses and services. VTA also hosted booths at several community events, including Dia de Portugal Festival and Viva Calle SJ in June, and connected in with the City of San José’s Urban Village Plan update.

Key highlights from the first round of engagement:

• Little Portugal is a place with layered cultural stories and legacies of immigration, organizing, agriculture, and industry.
• Parks and open spaces are highly desired. They should be safe, multigenerational, and support many activities.
• Food and retail services are highly desired. This includes grocery stores, restaurants/cafes, and affordable shopping.

Upcoming Engagement Activities

The next round of community engagement will discuss what we’ve heard in earlier outreach events, development concepts that reflect community input, and placemaking ideas. Our project team looks forward to chatting with you in person. Find us at:

• Viva Parks at Mayfair Park on August 22nd
• Five Wounds Urban Village Plan: Workshop 3 on September 21st

Follow along or connect! Visit the project webpage at www.vta.org/28LPdevelopment to sign up for newsletters to your email inbox or contact community.outreach@vta.org.