March Event Saturday, March 23, 2019 9am-11am
Join Board Member Theo Martinez on a walk, litter pick up and visit to our local full-service grocery, cafe and deli.
Meet at the office on the Sherman Oaks campus. It’s on the Leigh Avenue side, the driveway closest to Leigh Avenue and next to the flagpole. We have vests, tools, gloves and water on hand.
We will make a loop around Fruitdale and pick up any stray litter we find. This is also an opportunity to envision this stretch of road with bike lanes and cross walks. We know that the city will be repaving and re-striping this road later this year and it’s an opportunity to make our neighborhood safer with more parking as it happens.
As we make our way towards Meridian, we will be stopping at Zanotto’s market. If you haven’t taken advantage of our neighborhood spot, let us introduce you to Z Coffee, the store and all it has to offer…within walking distance! Coffee, tea, water or soft drink is on us. This is a first in a series of neighborhood walks and bike rides we will be sponsoring this year. It allows us to find out what our neighborhood needs and how we can make sure all corners of our neighborhood are a great place to live, work and play.
For more info, contact Theo at theomartinez@sbcglobal.net or 408 202 4688
Notes From The President
We are starting to see action on a lot of projects around our neighborhood, projects that have been in the works for years. If you notice the corner of SW Expy and Leigh Avenue you’ll see the development of a low-income senior housing project that will be built over ground floor commercial. This project has been around a long time and finally moving thanks to the County Measure A funds.
At a recent meeting, residents reviewed updated plans for the development at the Dick’s center site. This project will take on a large part of the housing slated for the Bascom Corridor, allowing other properties to be less densely developed. With a combination of housing, retail and office space, new signals on Bascom and clear access to the light rail station from Bascom, the entire corridor will be changed. We do, as a neighborhood, need to hold the city’s feet to the fire when it comes to developing the park land that is required to accompany this project.
Speaking of the Bascom corridor, VTA will be holding more meetings to show us the results of last year’s meetings. While this project is not funded, having the base plan allows VTA to apply for planning and development grants and allows the project to go through a planning development process. See the next page.
Valley Medical Center is starting the next phase of redevelopment and refurbishing of the campus. When you realize how old some of the site is, you know it’s past due. Residents from surrounding neighborhoods have asked for the county and city to work with us to develop a neighborhood outreach system.
After many, many years of complaining, Moorpark has been cleaned up (somewhat) by Caltrans. It’s not done, there’s still work, but it’s a relief to have the section that has caught fire multiple times cleaned up and cleared out.
We won’t be holding monthly meetings for now, but will resume keeping you updated on our goings on via periodic emails and newsletter. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions or concerns.
Wednesday, March 27
Bascom Complete Streets Corridor Review. Join VTA at 6pm at the Bascom Community Center, 1000 S. Bascom Ave. San Jose CA 95128 for a review of the plans developed from the meetings held last year. The entire corridor will be shown with the designs and plans based on your previous input. Two meetings will be held to allow the public a final review before entering the actual design stage. For more information contact VTA at 408 321 7575 or visit www.vta.org and see all the work on the Bascom Corridor Complete Streets page. The meeting on the 28th is the same, there is no difference.
Thursday, March 28
Bascom Complete Streets Corridor Review. Join VTA at 6pm at the Farnham Elementary School, 15711 Woodard Road, San Jose CA 95124 for a review of the plans developed from the meetings held last year. The entire corridor will be shown with the designs and plans based on your previous input. Two meetings will be held to allow the public a final review before entering the actual design stage. For more information contact VTA at 408 321 7575 or visit www.vta.org and see all the work on the Bascom Corridor Complete Streets page. The meeting on the 27th is the same, there is no difference.
Saturday, May 11
Friends of Bascom Book Sale! Stock up on gently used books and help fund library programs throughout the year. Sale is from 10am-2pm with $5 fill all you can book bag at 1pm. Bascom Library, 1000 S. Bascom Ave SJ 95128
Saturday, May 11
Celebrate Bike to Work month with a ride around the neighborhood. We will leave from the Sherman Oaks site at 11am, travel down Fruitdale, check out Tasso’s at Fruitdale Station then hit the creek trail to loop up to Bascom. This also will help identify projects or amenities we want to see along this route. And, you can swing by the book sale!
Sunday, May 19
Viva Calle! This great event returns from 11am-3pm across large parts of the city. Ever wonder what it would be like to close down roads and have a miles long festival for pedestrians and bicyclists? This year’s route runs from Willow Street to Downtown and the East Side. You can pick up 1st Street and head through downtown to St. James Park. Or, head down to Emma Prusch Park via Story Road. The entire route is auto free and full of activities, music, food and entertainment. Visit www.vivacallesj.org or contact our Parks Department for more info.
Thursday, June 13
Annual Ice Cream Social. FREE ICE CREAM! Grab your neighbors and meet us at the Sherman Oaks KaBOOM! Playground on the corner of Leigh and Fruitdale. This event will run from 5:30-7:30pm. Contact Theo Martinez (see page 1) for information or if you want to volunteer.