Guadalupe River Park & Downtown San Jose Economic Analysis

As San Jose experiences an unprecedented scale of investment in its intermodal transit infrastructure at and around Diridon Station, the downtown is witnessing a wave of transit-oriented mixed-use development that shifts the center of gravity to the west. This has placed an important new focus on the future of Guadalupe River Park, which runs through the downtown. On behalf of SPUR with funding by the Knight Foundation, JLP+D performed economic and planning analysis to investigate governance, management, and funding strategies for a revitalized Guadalupe River Park, with a focus on equity. JLP+D made the case for the role of the Park in the downtown that undergoes transformative real estate investments by major developers and technology companies, identified sources of funding for park maintenance and operations, and analyzed more equitable approaches to the future of the Park and the downtown.

For the analysis, JLP+D analyzed property and real estate data for parcels surrounding the Guadalupe River Park and investigated the economic impact of new development and the potential for value capture. The team also met with industry, non-profit, and government stakeholders to better understand local visions for the Park. JLP+D provided governance case studies with recommendations to improve the Park's operations, fiscal health, and stewardship.