2014 BUSINESS WALK: The Alameda/San Jose & Santa Clara
Historic Commercial Corridor Street construction, parking, safety and security are top concerns Retail, condos and apartments, professional services and motels line that stretch of The Alameda that connects the cities of a Jose and Santa Clara between Julian Street and Santa Clara University.
OVERALL POSITIVE OUTLOOK As on a few other recent business walks, those surveyed responded overwhelmingly (82.8%) that business was “good or improving.” A minority (12.5%) felt that they asked the three simple questions of conditions were maintaining and only a fraction (4.7%) felt that economic factors the business walk: were worsening. • How is business?
Seventy-five businesses were contacted as part of the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber’s fifth business walk, which occurred July 22, 2014, in partnership • with the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce. The business walk series is • part of the chamber’s Regional Economic Development Initiative. Previous business walks have been held in the Willow Glen, South First, North First and Blossom Hill/Almaden districts.
What do you like about doing business here? What can be done to improve business in the area?
HOW’S BUSINESS?
Correlating to the immense positive findings about business conditions were such comments that the neighborhood had a good atmosphere, was attractive to students and families, which helps develop repeat customers and importantly—is growing.
IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED Forty volunteers joined the business walk, which was presented by Bridge Bank. The Alameda is an area of neighborhood and visitor foot traffic that patronizes the first-floor retail shops, and as a connector between two cities and two universities, is heavily traversed by autos. Part of the retail corridor recently underwent streetscape improvements with the installation of a median and turn lanes by the city of San Jose. And it’s issues about traffic, recent construction activity along the corridor and parking that volunteers discovered when San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber
Volunteers got an earful when they asked what improvements were needed in the district.
Good/Improving (82.8%) Same/Maintaining (12.5%) Poor/Getting Worse (4.7%)
Since The Alameda is an historic thoroughfare, issues surrounding traffic and the movement of commerce are paramount and greatly impact the customer experience and business prosperity. Businesses surveyed were dismayed there was not better coordination and communication regarding the recent median improvements made along The Alameda.