Moving Light Rail-Adjacent Developments Forward for the VTA

We helped the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) advance joint development and transit-oriented projects in the Bay Area. We negotiated three agreements involving development of mixed-use projects next to VTA’s Blossom Hill, Tamien, and Evelyn Stations.

Blossom Hill Station Development

We worked closely with VTA to negotiate a complex option agreement with a joint venture developer to develop a residential and retail project on VTA ground leased property. This project, to be built on 7.59-acres adjacent to VTA’s Blossom Hill Station, is intended to deliver:

• 325 units of multifamily housing;
• 12,000 square feet of commercial retail space;
• 212 transit parking spaces and
• Additional public amenities and open space.

Tamien Station Development

We also worked with VTA to negotiate a complex option agreement with a joint venture developer for a 6.96 acre development parcel near the Tamien VTA Light Rail and Caltrain Stations. This project consists of:

• 135 units of affordable housing in one Phase;
• 434 units of market-rate housing, divided into two Phases of 217 units each;
• Commercial space of up to 10,000 square feet and
• Parking for VTA and Caltrain customers.

A minimum of 20% of the residential units at the Tamien ground lease development will be made available as affordable housing for low-income households. Half of these units will be made available to very low or extremely low-income households.

Evelyn Station Conversion

We worked with the City of Mountain View to address the immediate needs of the unhoused. By converting VTA’s demolished Evelyn Station into a safe parking program, individuals living in their vehicles will be connected to key resources. The ground lease agreement, signed in March 2021, brings needed flexibility. It allows the City of Mountain View to either develop affordable housing units on the site in accordance with the terms of the long-term ground lease or to purchase the land prior to construction of the affordable housing units.

Local Impact

These projects will result in multi-million dollar construction contracts generating jobs for local contractors. Additionally, VTA will benefit from an alternate revenue stream while achieving its goal of supporting affordable housing in the communities it serves.

"These projects present an opportunity for building a city of the future,” said San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo.