The GiƯord Apartments project has generated significant neighborhood concerns regarding the waiving of Council approved designed standards. Those standards were developed through years of collaboration among neighborhood leaders, planning staƯ, property owners, and the development community. If the City intends to provide financial value that facilitates a specific project, then there should also be a transparent discussion regarding community benefits, labor standards, prevailing wage commitments, design quality, and the long-term precedent such actions create.
The Council should not be forced into an all-or-nothing vote. Members may support acquiring the historic Knox-Goodrich property while having legitimate concerns regarding the incentive structure tied to GiƯord Apartments. Likewise, residents deserve the opportunity to comment separately on each issue.
For these reasons, we respectfully request that the City Council:
1. Remove Item 2.10 from the consent calendar;
2. Bifurcate the South First Street acquisition from the GiƯord Apartments incentive structure with direction to staƯ to provide a staƯ memo detailing the justification for the escrow holdback for a future Council vote;
3. Continue the item to a future meeting to allow for additional public review, staƯ information, and discussion.
San José residents expect transparency, accountability, and thoughtful stewardship of public resources. A transaction of this significance that ties two unrelated projects together warrants a full public hearing and separate consideration of its individual components.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Kathy Sutherland, Co-president
Stakeholders + Neighborhoods Initiative