Priority 5: Ensuring that the needs and potential of our northside neighborhoods are recognized and incorporated into the fabric of our entire community 

Santa Clara – oh, that’s the little city on El Camino with the Mission and the University and the beautiful Victorian homes and the downtown that got lost in the 60’s and now sadly fits neatly into four square blocks.  Not any more.  Not for quite a while.

For quite a while the North side has been raising its hand to be noticed.  Of course Agnews Hospital was still there.  Housing along Lafayette and off Montague Expressway brought residents and schools, but few amenities (like a market!).  Great America brought tourists and a reason for youngsters to spend locally and ride the bus.  Tilt-up construction, local talent, and big money brought the giant technology campuses.  The Convention Center and hotels brought destination status and a golf course.  Mission College and the Mercado brought higher education and movies.  Connections, climate and generosity brought the 49’ers.  We got “El Mercado,” but still no market.

Then along came Development – in place of Agnews, first Sun, and then Rivermark.  Over 3,000 residential units in all, carefully planned, meticulously designed.  First class restaurants and wonderful shops.  And a market!  Finally a market.

The center of gravity in the City shifted ever so slightly to the North.  Thousands of new Santa Clarans have come: singles, families, seniors, a community, with needs and talents and hopes and demands.

Our City can plan with the best of them.  Services and amenities, carefully organized, thoughtfully planned, have already come:  a Police Substation, a Fire Station, two parks, a school, affordable housing, traffic controls, protected habitat, hiking trails, and more.  Soon (with a recovered economy) a new library will take its place at the end of Live Oak Park.