SPUR Impact Awards 2019: Vallco Town Center Team Leads an Inclusive Process to Rethink a Declining Mall

Chad Mosley, Piu Ghosh, Catarina Kidd and David Stillman of the Vallco Town Center Specific Plan team. Photo by Christie Goshe.

The 2019 SPUR Impact Awards, held on March 22, recognized outstanding job performance of those serving San Jose and the neighboring communities.

 

The Vallco Mall site has been in decline and underused for decades. To transform the area into a walkable, mixed-use district and restore economic vitality, the City of Cupertino assigned a team of planners to lead a specific plan process.

The Vallco Town Center Specific Plan team responded to the housing crisis by increasing the area’s housing allocation by more than 7.5 times and including a wide variety of housing choices for all income levels and abilities. The Vallco Mall’s history of controversy and past failures created many obstacles: a polarized community, an ambitious timeline and active opposition to the planning process. To overcome these challenges, the team led a widespread and inclusive stakeholder engagement effort. The completion of the Vallco Town Center Specific Plan is a testament to the team’s leadership, dedication and perseverance.

 

2019 SPUR Impact Awards 2019: The Vallco Town Center Specific Plan team from SPUR on Vimeo.

 

2019 winners also include:

Better BikewaySJ Transforms City Streets Into a Network of Bike Lanes

Martin Alkire Envisions a Greener Future for Mountain View’s North Bayshore

Consuelo Hernandez Manages Finances to Increase Affordable Housing 

Silicon Valley Clean Energy Team Redefines the South Bay's Energy Supply