Get San José Spotlight headlines delivered to your inbox The second phase of one of Los Gatos’ largest and most controversial development projects is one step closer to a vote after years of delays and revisions It also proposes about 8 acres of open space and 768 parking spaces on the site’s approximately 15.6 acres The planning commission will review the project again at a later date once its environmental review is finished before the development heads to Town Council Commissioner Rob Stump wanted to ensure developers didn’t go back on the promised affordable housing if the town council approves the project — a sticking point for the commission because previous proposals included more affordable homes The well-heeled town doesn’t have many affordable housing options The average annual household income was $207,891 between 2019 and 2023 “We need more affordable housing,” Stump said at the meeting Wouldn’t it be great if it could yield a few more Grosvenor senior vice president of development of American properties said the developer included as much affordable housing as possible while keeping the project financially feasible “My hopes are that we can start as soon as possible and get housing built and delivered to town,” Buster told San José Spotlight “There’s definitely a need for renters and for new buyers and new owners that want to live in Los Gatos The project site is a prime development location in Los Gatos’ housing plan The town must build nearly 2,000 homes by 2031 to comply with state mandates 847 of which must be affordable to low-income residents A few residents voiced concerns about the effects the development could have on the surrounding neighborhoods at the commission meeting but more than a dozen people spoke in support of it That support was largely because of the affordable housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities Los Gatos resident Katherine Mancuso said she’d love if her 28-year-old son He’s lived in a supportive apartment in Santa Clara for about a year But he doesn’t drive and Mancuso wants him closer to his support network Pamela Emanuel lives in one of those homes and supports the second phase of development She said more affordable housing creates more opportunities for Black and brown residents like her to move there and diversify the predominantly white town She’s been part of the community for 20 years and couldn’t afford to live in Los Gatos without the affordable apartment “(It’s) total relief… knowing that I can be able to afford to pay my rent and not have to move out of the community that I’ve raised my kids in all these years,” Emanuel told San José Spotlight Contact Annalise Freimarck at [email protected] or follow @annalise_ellen on X Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Can anyone tell me why the State is continuing to push for new housing to be built when the forecast is for ZERO population growth in the State thru 2050 There isn’t enough housing for who’s already here Homelessness is like the #1 issue in Santa Clara County You must be logged in to post a comment San José Spotlight is an award-winning nonprofit newsroom dedicated to fearless journalism that disrupts the status quo holds power to account and paves the way for change We’re changing the face of local journalism by building a community-supported newsroom that ignites civic engagement educates residents and strengthens our democracy 408.206.5327[email protected] Submit a News TipSubscribe to our newsletters San José Spotlight is a project of the San José News Bureau a 501(c)(3) charitable organization | Tax ID: 82-5355128 ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " By: 5:30 am on May 2 The Los Gatos Planning Commission has recommended approval ahead of the May 6th City Council meeting for townhouses at 15349 Los Gatos Boulevard in Los Gatos, Santa Clara County. Once built, the project will add 55 units, including some affordable housing. City Ventures is the project sponsor and developer Construction will produce five structures with 89,700 square feet including 67,980 square feet for housing and 19,000 square feet for parking The potential 55 units will vary in size and pricing with 47 market-rate homes and eight below-market-rate units Four of the market-rate units will be designed as live/work dwellings along Los Gatos Boulevard The remaining dwellings will be townhouse-style dwellings spanning three floors Los Gatos Greens at 15349 Los Gatos Boulevard site map Hunt Hale Jones is responsible for the design Facade materials will include board and batten panels The plan set describes the style that “draws inspiration from the rich history of Los Gatos,” including landscaped paseos between the structures The 1.5-acre wedge-shaped parcel is located along Los Gatos Boulevard and Garden Lane Demolition will be required for a small strip mall and an auto shop Future residents will be close to the sprawling New Town Shopping Center and directly across from the Ace Hardware store where Arya Properties is pushing for an eight-story apartment infill using the builder’s remedy Peck Education Trust is the property owner The inclusion of affordable housing allows the developer to utilize Senate Bill 330 to streamline the approval process the Planning Commission approved the project earlier this week and the City Council is expected to vote on it early next week The estimated cost and timeline for construction have yet to be shared Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates Like YIMBY on Facebook Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews ga('send', 'event', ‘Robert ‘Becker, 'Impression', 'https://sfyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/desktop-ad.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ADVERTISEMENT ga('send', 'event', 'SF YIMBY', 'Impression', 'https://sfyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/sfyimbyadnews.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ga('send', 'event', 'SF YIMBY', 'Impression', 'https://sfyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/sf-yimby-dot-com-graphic.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); Follow on Instagram © COPYRIGHT New York YIMBY LLC It's happening: The robots are taking our jobs BurgerBot is a new fast-food joint where robots are doing all the work that humans aren't interested in In Los Gatos, California, one of the San Francisco Bay Area's more affluent areas, a shiny new fancy fast-food concept has just popped up inside of one of its trendy upscale brunch spots. ABB Robotics and BurgerBots have teamed up and unleashed a pair of IRB 360 FlexPickers and YuMi cobots (collaborative robots) to slap out some tasty burgers for the masses – in 27 seconds These machines don't just stack US$18 all-beef patties onions on a sesame seed bun with surgical precision onto a QR-coded tray – they are claimed to make perfectly consistent burgers every single time with zero attitude who's never had a job before and is on day one of training and experiencing rush hour for the first time But before we pull out the protest signs and start a picket line here's some food for thought: A full staff of humans is employed at the restaurant The bots (for now) only handle the burger production operation – from grinding the meat and griddling it up to tossing it onto a conveyor belt assembly line They then assemble the ingredients and kick out a complete ready-to-eat burger back to a human server to be dished out to a waiting guest The robots do the repetitive stuff while supposedly leaving people more time for hospitality and other people-y things "The food service industry is dynamic and demanding and our technology brings industrial-grade consistency efficiency and reliability to this space," said Marc Segura "By taking over repetitive and time-consuming tasks robots allow staff to focus on what matters most – creating memorable dining experiences." ABB surveyed 1,250 hospitality workers and found that 67% actually want robots to take over boring and 63% were excited by the prospect of a robot making their job easier automation isn't necessarily about replacing humans When the washing machine replaced the washboard BurgerBots isn't just a Silicon Valley tech gimmick ABB's compact robot cell combines the FlexPicker 360 – which grabs and stacks veggies and the like – and the YuMi robot for final assembly as a box rolls down a conveyor The system uses real-time inventory tracking from lettuce to condiments and everything in between BurgerBots has only been open for roughly 24 hours at the time of writing though this isn't ABB's first foray into robotic food prep ABB's IRB 4600 'bot helped power Roboeatz's ARK (Autonomous Robotic Kitchen) in Latvia – claimed to be the world's most advanced autonomous kitchen that can whip up over 1,000 recipes from 80 fresh ingredients According to 2025 data from the World Economic Forum automation and AI could lead to the loss of roughly 92 million human jobs (about 8% of all jobs) by 2030 Towards the top of the potential list are positions like cashiers and fast-food employees The first tasks to likely replace human employees will be dangerous or tedious jobs – and roles that don't particularly require high social or emotional intelligence That being said, on the BurgerBot website the company is accepting resumes from qualified humans Source: ABB Robotics Get the latest Biz Beat stories delivered to your inbox The Happy Hound in Los Gatos has served a menu of classic American diner fare: assorted hamburgers as attested by the loyalty of longtime customers such as Gary Snyder who said he only needs to wave his hand to workers at the counter to place his regular order of two mustard dogs “I’ve been coming here for over 40 years,” he told San José Spotlight but the employees are what keeps me coming back — there are some wonderful people here.” Not much has changed at the 23-seat diner since it first opened. The Happy Hound is still family owned and the hot dogs are still all-beef and eight inches long co-owner and grandson of founder Hugh Dresslar “We’ve added things here and there to accommodate vegetarians,” Quinet told San José Spotlight “But we haven’t changed where we get our food The diner has its roots in the successful Hound Dog Restaurant in Danville She had no experience in the restaurant business and financed it by borrowing against her car banker and now-ex-husband Hugh Dresslar glanced through her books and spotted potential So he took from what she was doing and opened this place took it over in 1987 and gave nephew Quinet a job when he had personal difficulties but he absorbed everything he could from his uncle “He was the most kind-hearted person I’ve ever met,” Quinet said and few quick-serve restaurants can say that about their people.” the menu’s lead-off is different takes on all-beef hot dogs which are steamed but can be grilled on request Other variations include hot dogs with chili or sauerkraut corn dogs (with a vegetarian version available) jalapeños and Angry Sauce — a kicked-up must-try version of Thousand Island dressing that can be substituted on request with any item or ordered separately The Mexi-Hound is the sleeper on the menu: a hot dog and the meat and bean chili carries just enough heat to register without being overbearing Quinet said the diner’s mainstay is its burgers said she appreciates the burgers as much as she does the “family-oriented vibe.” “They are terrific,” she told San José Spotlight Quinet works closely with vendors to ensure the meat is delivered frequently He periodically has his employees and regular customers do taste tests to ensure everyone is happy with the food “I think we’re one of the few places still offering that kind of quality,” he said “It’s a big portion-size burger at about the same price as what our competitors are getting for a fast-food burger which can be ordered as singles or doubles A tortilla-wrapped Mexi-Burger matches the Mexi-Hound in style and ingredients and turkey and chicken burgers are also available A BLT with six slices of bacon on a French roll is available is the go-to for 16-year veteran employee Sarai Mejia Side orders include beautifully prepared beer-battered onion rings golden-brown tater tots and shoestring fries that beat any that a famous chain makes cheese and Parmesan cheese are available as add-ons Milkshakes include all the standards and offer specialties like blackberry The Happy Hound is as old-fashioned as you can get and Quinet is determined to please them every way he can with the diner’s food and service “You see the same faces a couple of times a week or with their parents on weekends We greet them with a smile and bring their food out instead of calling their number That’s the personal experience I would want when I go out to eat.” Contact Robert Eliason at [email protected] Editor’s Note: The Biz Beat is a series highlighting local small businesses and restaurants in Silicon Valley. Know a business you’d like to see featured? Let us know at [email protected] Website Instagram Facebook You must be logged in to post a comment 408.206.5327[email protected] Pricey downtown Los Gatos is being primed to become more affordable to live near The change is also part of the town’s state-mandated housing plan which requires Los Gatos to build nearly 2,000 new homes by 2031 About 847 must be deemed affordable to low-income residents The town council will consider whether to adopt the zoning change at a later date Planning Commission Chair Emily Thomas supports the initiative because if it doesn’t pass, the state could deem Los Gatos’ housing plan noncompliant. That would open the town up to more builder’s remedy projects The controversial state law allows developers to bypass local zoning laws “I think we would be doing the town a disservice by not forwarding this recommendation because we are going to be in a terrible place as a town if our housing (plan) gets decertified because that’s gonna give us a lot less power locally,” Thomas said at the meeting Burnett said the town shouldn’t have to go above and beyond the state’s housing requirements adding the change could lead to taller buildings across Los Gatos and cause traffic issues Future affordable projects near downtown could qualify for California’s density bonus law which grants one or more concessions to reduce development costs unlimited waivers from local development standards and higher density “I look at my role as a planning commissioner to look after the best interests of our residents not add additional incentives to offer for 100% affordable housing builds,” Burnett said at the meeting Mandolini said Eden Housing would be interested in developing an affordable housing project in downtown if it becomes feasible “It’s the folks who work in the retail sector,” she told San José Spotlight “It’s people who are low-income seniors who really need this housing Some affordable housing is in the town’s pipeline, but the homes are a fraction of the whole project. The Los Gatos Lodge is slated to transform into 155 townhomes Jeff Suzuki, president of the Los Gatos Anti-Racism Coalition, said housing should be accessible in all parts of town, including near downtown. He said the town’s history of housing segregation has contributed to its costly homes and this could be a step in the right direction “The last generation’s outcomes are effectively this generation’s opportunities and we are denying people the right to have those sorts of opportunities as long as it’s just financially impossible for many people to live here,” Suzuki told San José Spotlight Contact Annalise Freimarck at [email protected] or follow @annalise_ellen on X You must be logged in to post a comment 408.206.5327[email protected] The Los Gatos Town Council is standing behind two of its members accused of defaming a resident Three Los Gatos Town officials — Mayor Matthew Hudes and Councilmembers Rob Rennie and Mary Badame — voted unanimously Friday for the town to pay legal fees to defend Vice Mayor Rob Moore and Councilmember Maria Ristow in a defamation lawsuit by resident Lynley Kerr Hogan Moore and Ristow recused themselves from the vote Hogan alleges Moore and Ristow defamed her by falsely stating she threatened to kill someone at a council meeting The complaint alleges Ristow and Moore’s statements caused Hogan’s banishment from local political group Los Gatos Democracy Tent —whose co-founder is seeking more than $35,000 plus punitive damages against the defendants for causing emotional distress The councilmembers’ legal fees will come out of the town’s self-insured retention fund until costs exceed $50,000 at which point fees will be covered through the town’s liability insurance The town will not compensate the councilmembers for losses or damages if they are found liable the whole truth and nothing but the truth about me to come out and my name to be cleared,” Hogan told San José Spotlight Ristow and Fagot declined to comment since the case is ongoing Hogan’s complaint outlines multiple issues including: “Compensatory damages according to proof; punitive damages as allowed by law; injunctive relief to prevent future defamation; and declaratory relief that Defendant’s defamed Plaintiff by making untrue statements of fact; emotional distress damages; and costs of this suit together with such other and further relief as the Court and Jury may deem reasonable and just under the circumstances.“ Hudes referred San José Spotlight to the meeting minutes when asked for comment but said the discussion wasn’t easy and took four meetings before councilmembers reached a consensus “It was a difficult decision,” Hudes said in a written statement the town cannot provide any further comments.” who’s lived in Los Gatos for about 40 years said the councilmembers shouldn’t have to worry about lawsuits because a resident disagrees with what they say Hogan drops the lawsuit — but Rubio said she’d accept the court dismissing the lawsuit and declaring it without merit “What we do at a local level is extremely important,” Rubio told San José Spotlight “I think we’re seeing that around the country people are standing up to intimidation and hate The town will file answers to Hogan’s legal complaint in the coming days Contact Annalise Freimarck at [email protected] or follow @annalise_ellen on X In the brief time I looked at Lynley Kerr SM posts she spews hate and defamatory comments The City Council will prevail and we can only hope the expense her actions will be carried solely by Kerr You must be logged in to post a comment 408.206.5327[email protected] By: 5:00 am on March 13 Los Gatos Town Council has approved plans for the townhouse-style development at 50 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road. Once complete, the project will replace the nearly 70-year-old Los Gatos Lodge with over a hundred condominiums next to Los Gatos High School. Summerhill Homes is the project developer 50 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road view along the main road Full build-out will yield a combined 367,300 square feet across 28 three-story structures containing 155 townhouse-style condominiums and 310 parking spaces The project will feature 26 affordable units with 16 units for low-income households and ten units for moderate-income households SDG Architects is responsible for the design Illustrations show each of the structures rising three floors with Spanish revival architectural features The facade will be clad with concrete tiling 50 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road area context map The project was approved in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act The Notice of Determination published by the town of Los Gatos states that the project could have a significant environmental effect and that mitigation measures and monitoring plans have been adopted to reduce that impact The nearly nine-acre property is located along Los Gatos-Saratoga Road which connects the South Bay with Santa Cruz Future residents will be less than twenty minutes away by bus from the city’s retail thoroughfare along North Santa Cruz Avenue or five minutes by bicycle I hope they don’t cut down or demolish the mature trees and gardening A large townhome development will replace a decades-old iconic Los Gatos hotel The Los Gatos Town Council unanimously approved a 155-townhome development Tuesday to replace the Los Gatos Lodge Councilmember Mary Badame recused herself because of her home’s proximity to the site San Ramon-based SummerHill Homes will develop the project at 50 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road on 8.8 acres The three-story development includes 26 affordable homes and 330 parking spaces Vice Mayor Rob Moore supported the project because of the diverse housing options it could provide for residents like him “I’m one of the one-third of renters that lives in the town of Los Gatos who does not have a pathway to home ownership in this town,” he said at the meeting “When I see this sort of development where these units are likely to go for less than a single family home goes for in Los Gatos I see a place where I could see myself potentially living one day.” with model homes expected to be built by spring or summer 2027 Mayor Matthew Hudes said he voted yes because the council was compelled by state housing mandates to add homes but he cited multiple concerns about the project “I do see a project where the architectural deficiencies have not been addressed one where we haven’t figured out the safety profile of traffic that could be exiting onto Los Gatos-Saratoga Road a lack of clarity about how pedestrians will magically appear on this property to use the pedestrian path that’s occurred how 20 guest spaces will be sufficient for 155 units,” he said at the meeting making it easier to build affordable and moderately priced housing John Hickey, vice president of development at SummerHill Homes, said the project’s amenities will help its future residents, as well as the surrounding neighborhood. SummerHill Homes has also built the homes at Bellaterra @ North 40 as part of one of the larger housing projects in town “We believe that the project will be a valuable asset to the community helping the town provide housing so that it can continue to sustain a thriving multi-generational community,” Hickey said at the meeting with some citing traffic and safety concerns and others pointing to the need for affordable housing A traffic study found the project won’t generate much more traffic than the hotel does now Los Gatos resident Steve Piasecki said he’s concerned about how the “cookie-cutter” project will fit in with Los Gatos’ charm He said the developer could’ve put in single-family homes to keep with the town’s character “One of the fundamental principles of any new development coming into this town or any town is to be a good neighbor and complement and integrate with the fabric of the community,” Piasecki said Los Gatos identified the site as a prime development location in its state-mandated housing plan The town must create at least 1,993 homes by 2031 to comply with the state 847 of which must be deemed affordable to low-income residents The development will likely leave some of the lodge’s employees looking for a job said he and most of the workers haven’t thought much about what would happen with the development’s approval — it’s been a slow-moving process since SummerHill Homes submitted plans in 2023 He said there is room for some employees to move to different positions under the hotel owner had high school reunions,” he previously told San José Spotlight Moore said despite it not being a perfect project “We’ll be seeing a variety of applications in a year or two and I think some of them will not be this thoughtful in how they choose to develop,” he said Contact Annalise Freimarck at [email protected] or follow @annalise_ellen on X You must be logged in to post a comment 408.206.5327[email protected] The shifting political tides in Washington have Los Gatos officials strategizing ways to protect vital services The Los Gatos Town Council voted 4-1 March 18 to review federal funding changes every two months to determine the effect on town services The small West Valley town has yet to receive roughly $5.6 million out of $10 million in federal funding and grants this year — money it relies on to supplement its $60 million budget for costs it can’t cover alone Los Gatos is waiting for nearly $3.7 million in vegetation management funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S Forest Service to help prevent wildfires in the high-risk town the town will contribute an additional $1.7 million from the general fund It’s also waiting on a roughly $2 million Federal Highway Administration reimbursement to pay for its nearly completed Los Gatos Creek Trail connector project to Highway 9 Mayor Matthew Hudes said the town is paying attention to any federal changes that could affect its residents, ranging from local funding sources to Medicaid money He said now is not the time to reallocate funds because everything is still uncertain adding the town can pull from reserves for critical services if needed and we’ve put (in) an ongoing way of monitoring it,” Hudes told San José Spotlight The discussion comes just before a budget review for the upcoming year The town is projecting a $5.6 million deficit for fiscal year 2025-26 with the shortfalls expected to grow in future years Projections don’t account for federal uncertainty Several residents at the meeting voiced their support for the current administration but many expressed concerns over what national decisions could mean for Los Gatos Deborah Lowe, who’s lived in town for about 30 years and serves on the Library Board, said a large concern is wildfire management because Los Gatos is so close to the mountains The town is hiring a full-time emergency preparedness manager They do oversight,” Lowe told San José Spotlight “They protect all their citizens from the poorest to the richest and they’re trying to take that away.” it’s encouraging to see the town monitoring the situation She said the town must become more self-sufficient and rely on the community during uncertainty “The best case scenario is that we’re overreacting but better to be prepared than to be caught off guard,” Albright told San José Spotlight Contact Annalise Freimarck at [email protected] or follow @annalise_ellen on X You must be logged in to post a comment 408.206.5327[email protected] One West Valley town may have to brace for some rocky years as it faces multimillion-dollar shortfalls Los Gatos could be looking at an estimated $5.6 million deficit for fiscal year 2025-26 a significant number for a town with a roughly $60 million budget for the current fiscal year The shortfall is largely due to anticipated revenue not keeping pace with rising costs and inflation according to the town’s mid-year fiscal report and five-year forecast released last month The forecast predicts deficits will persist in the coming years ranging from an estimated $7.2 million in fiscal year 2026-27 to $8 million by fiscal year 2030-31 The mid-year report suggests the town control expenses and use one-time funds to cover the gap in the short term but that won’t solve the potential five-year deficit Los Gatos relies on its property tax and car licensing fees Property tax and fee revenues are projected to climb to $29.8 million by fiscal year 2029-30 Sales tax revenue is anticipated to hit just under $7 million the report states the town needs to better pair its proceeds with its services and expenditure needs Mayor Matthew Hudes said while the projected numbers shouldn’t be taken lightly, he’s not seriously concerned about the town’s financial future. He said in the five years he’s been on the Town Council the five-year fiscal projections have mostly been lower than the town’s actual revenue Town Manager Chris Constantin requested an analysis of the town’s finances to determine the accuracy of the projections “The town is very well managed financially and the council and the town manager and staff are engaged in understanding the potential causes and the ideas to work on solutions that could mitigate any potential deficits,” Hudes told San José Spotlight Some residents are concerned about the effects of the potential shortfalls in a town where officials have balanced the budget for years The last time Los Gatos experienced a deficit was in fiscal year 2019-20 Kathy Mlinarich, executive director of the Live Oak Senior Nutrition Center said she’s worried about the town’s ability to fund grants the program relies on Live Oak provides free and reduced-price lunches to nearly 100 older adults Monday through Friday The town council supported the program with $48,000 in grants last year Mlinarch said the nutrition program will be detrimentally affected if the community grant program is deprioritized in budget discussions due to the deficits She said Hudes could advocate for the program as a staunch supporter “What will happen if they have to cancel those grants for us is we’re going to have to turn seniors away especially in this economy with all the inflation and cost of food.” “The way I look at it is that we all work together to figure out how we close the gap Are there better ways of doing it?” he told San José Spotlight “The best we can do is doing what we do very well and under budget because we’re responsible.” The draft budget for fiscal year 2025-26 will be available on April 22 with town council deliberation slated for May 21 Contact Annalise Freimarck at [email protected] or follow @annalise_ellen on X No homeless problem and closing streets down to beach goers Evicting greyhound and pushing the homeless into San Jose You must be logged in to post a comment 408.206.5327[email protected] Caltrans will perform overnight (and periodic daytime *) lanes closures at State Route 17 (SR-17) Main Street Overcrossing and the Santa Cruz Undercrossing Bridge in the city of Los Gatos The purpose of this project is to upgrade the sidewalks and bridge rails at each location to meet current safety standards to ensure the protection of the traveling public and enhance the reliability of the bridge rails Construction activities will take place Monday through Friday from 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM Project scheduled to be complete December 2025 Parking on the Main Street overcrossing bridge will be limited due to construction activities. No parking signs are in place One lane closed on Main Street Overcrossing Bridge and HWY-17 Santa Cruz Undercrossing Bridge: Monday through Friday 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM *Intermittent daytime closures will take place at both locations Project webpage: State Route 17 Overcrossing Project | Caltrans An older adult community in Los Gatos is on its way toward a major overhaul providing what officials said are much-needed homes The Los Gatos Town Council unanimously approved the Los Gatos Meadows development Tuesday multi-story project dedicated for older adults at 110 Wood Road Councilmember Maria Ristow recused herself from the vote because of her home’s proximity to the site The 10.84-acre project will restore the former Los Gatos Meadows older adult community shuttered in 2019 after 48 years due to safety concerns Rockwood Pacific and older adult living nonprofit Front Porch Communities will demolish and rebuild the abandoned development with about 185 independent living and up to 24 supportive care homes The project, slated for completion by late 2029, will provide more housing options for the town’s growing older adult population. About one in five Los Gatos residents are 65 and older, according to 2024 U.S. Census data. By 2030, more than 25% of Santa Clara County’s population is predicted to be 60 and older Los Gatos has a population of just above 32,000 Mayor Matthew Hudes said creating more housing for the town’s older adult population is critical to allow residents to age in place in the community they love He said he’d consider moving to the Meadows project as he gets older but in the rest of Los Gatos,” Hudes told San José Spotlight “We need to provide what they call village services that allow people to stay in their homes with the kind of support that they need.” Plans to revitalize Los Gatos Meadows don’t include an affordable housing option because the development isn’t required to provide it chief advancement officer at Front Porch Communities said the development agreement includes 11 affordable homes at El Sombroso Oaks a separate older adult community the nonprofit runs Those homes must be created before Front Porch Communities can receive the builder’s permit for the Meadows The project has a lengthy history in the community Developers first submitted plans in 2020 and the Los Gatos Planning Commission reviewed them in 2022 The commission unanimously opposed the project largely due to building heights and its concentration of luxury homes before sending it to the town council Councilmembers sent it back to the commission which unanimously recommended its approval last November after the developer made several adjustments including tucking it more into the hillside said the project was thoughtfully designed so residents could access downtown and remain part of the community “This is going to be one of the best communities of its kind in the whole country,” he told San José Spotlight “(I’m) looking forward to getting another step down the road Residents have broadly supported the project with only a few concerns about fire safety due to the hillside location Project plans include two fire entrances and exits and McMullin said residents will participate in fire drills every year board member of older adult nonprofit Los Gatos Thrives Foundation and resident for about 35 years he and his friends may have to move away from the town they adore He said he’d consider living at Los Gatos Meadows because of its integration into the community “Seniors don’t want to live in a seniors-only community,” Feinberg told San José Spotlight “They want to live in the town that they’ve loved for all the years they’ve lived here and continue to participate in all the town has to offer.” “I see how (vibrant) this town is with a population that is multi-generational how we want to continue to provide housing and services for all ages within the community,” he said Contact Annalise Freimarck at [email protected] or follow @annalise_ellen on X You must be logged in to post a comment 408.206.5327[email protected] By: 5:00 am on February 20 According to reporting by Annalise Freimarck for the San Jose Spotlight the plans have received support from the community and commissioners noting that a traffic study concluded that the townhomes would not generate much more traffic than the hotel does currently The application was first submitted in late 2023 invoking Senate Bill 330 to streamline the approval process alongside the State Density Bonus program to increase the residential capacity Zoning waivers have been used to increase the project height and reduce required open space the planning documents state that “the applicant has invoked their right to Builder’s Remedy The proposal will yield a combined 367,300 square feet across 28 three-story structures containing 155 homes and 310 parking spaces SDG Architects is responsible for the design The 8.8-acre property is located along Saragota-Los Gatos Road between Bella Vista Avenue and Highway 17 in southern Los Gatos near the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountain range The southern edge of the property borders the Los Gatos High School campus Future residents will be less than twenty minutes away from the city’s retail thoroughfare by bus The plans have received a recommendation for approval from the city’s Planning Commission the project needs final approval from Los Gatos Town Council More than 100 homes could displace a longstanding The Los Gatos Planning Commission unanimously recommended a proposed 155-townhome development Wednesday that would replace the Los Gatos Lodge San Ramon-based SummerHill Homes is slated to develop the project at 50 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road on roughly 8.9 acres Plans for the three-story development include 26 affordable homes and 330 parking spaces The Town Council must approve the development before it moves forward Planning Commissioner Steven Raspe said he supported the project because it worked well with the location, a portion of which also borders Highway 17.  The project is the first Senate Bill 330 application the commission has reviewed. SB 330 can be enacted when municipalities are late receiving state approval on mandated housing plans probably the best that we’re going to do in this site,” Raspe said at the meeting “It’s a site that’s perfectly suited for multi-family housing.” will be demolished if the project goes through The hotel is a common meeting place for community service organizations including the Los Gatos Lions Club and the Rotary Club of Los Gatos said he and most of the staff haven’t thought much about what will happen if the development gets approved because it’s been a slow-moving process since SummerHill Homes submitted plans in 2023 Reyes added the project could fall through preserving the historic hotel for a while longer had high school reunions,” he told San José Spotlight Despite that, the community is largely supportive of the development even with concerns about traffic a Los Gatos resident of roughly five years said the development could create an opportunity for him and his family to stay in town on an educator’s salary He said keeping that stability for his two children in the town they love is critical SummerHill Homes has also built the homes at Bellaterra @ North 40 as part of one of the larger housing projects in town senior vice president of development at SummerHill Homes said the developer prides itself on the quality of its homes and communities He said the public benefits this project could provide will help more than those those who live there “We believe that the project will be a valuable asset to the community helping the town meet the demand for housing so they can sustain a thriving Contact Annalise Freimarck at [email protected] or follow @annalise_ellen on X Summerhill are greedy developers looking to choke the last bit of life out of Los Gatos unaffordable homes and overcrowded neighborhoods You must be logged in to post a comment 408.206.5327[email protected] Wild mustard is in full bloom at one of Los Gatos’ last orchards brown walnut trees stand as remaining vestiges of the town’s agricultural past San Jose-based Urban Catalyst recently submitted revised plans for a 138-townhome development to replace the orchard at 14789 Oka Road Plans for the three-story project include 28 affordable homes and 296 parking spots It would remove approximately 374 walnut trees on the nearly 7-acre site owned by Yuki Farms The Los Gatos Planning Commission and Town Council will review the project at a later date which requires Los Gatos to build nearly 2,000 homes by 2031 considers the site a prime development location An Urban Catalyst spokesperson said the developer tried to match the project’s design with Los Gatos’ character to help meet the housing crisis in the Bay Area “(We’re) doing what we can to (have) a nice balancing act between what the town really wants which is more housing,” the spokesperson told San José Spotlight Resident Heidi Parker has lived in a mobile home park adjacent to the site for nearly seven years She said she bought her home partly because of the view of the Santa Cruz Mountains and the orchard right outside her window Parker just sold her home and said she had to lower the asking price by $75,000 because of prospective buyers’ concerns over the potential development She said the project could increase traffic on the dead-end road adding she’d be sad to see the longstanding orchard go “Why does everything have to be developed?” Parker told San José Spotlight “Even if they were to change it into a heritage park or something that could maintain (the history).” Yuki Farms could not be reached for comment was primarily agricultural and undeveloped registrar and history programs manager for New Museum Los Gatos said farmers grew almonds and prunes in large orchards in town Los Gatos is also the birthplace of multiple farming inventions Thompson said it’s important to preserve the history in the face of constant development “If (history is) just discarded and not saved people are going to miss it and there will be no way to experience or connect with that past,” she told San José Spotlight (to) save those tangible aspects of the past not only to educate people try to think about if you lived here — how would you make your project fit in better with what Los Gatos is and particularly what’s close by?” Rennie told San José Spotlight Contact Annalise Freimarck at [email protected] or follow @annalise_ellen on X no whoever the spokesperson for the developer is we don’t need more housing we are overcrowded as it is less people maybe because how can we sustain this ridiculous population and continue with a quality of life we aee accustomed to every bee affordable housing what does that mean nothing is afforda that’s the allure I would encourage folks who consider San Jose to be overcrowded to move to some place that isn’t the tenth largest city in America or the center of the world’s high-tech industry If you want to live in a “town,” the central valley is right there there’s one person you have the power to make that decision for You must be logged in to post a comment 408.206.5327[email protected] A 30-home project could be built across the street from Los Gatos High School The Los Gatos Planning Commission voted 4-2 on March 26 to recommend the Town Council approve a 4-story, mixed-use housing development at 143-151 E. Main St. across the street from Los Gatos High School Commissioners Susan Burnett and Rob Stump voted no The development would back onto Church Street a main drop-off zone for the roughly 1,900 students who attend the high school said that’s a concern because students and parents only have three entry points into school He said the intersection of Church Street and High School Court is already congested adding he sees near misses between students and cars constantly “I feel like it’s pushed to the breaking point on a daily basis when you see the number of cars and the interactions between the movement of bikes pedestrians (and) e-bikes as they come through there,” he told San José Spotlight Poetzinger said he’s grateful the planning commission recommended amending the development plans including a ban on construction vehicles entering and exiting the property during weekdays from 7-9 a.m But he’s still worried about student safety Plans submitted by CSPN LLC include 30 condos on close to a half-acre with six affordable homes and 2,416 square feet of ground floor retail space The proposal includes an underground 47-space parking garage Developers would demolish the existing building where Cafe Dio and A & G Construction are but the businesses could move back after construction The council will review this project in May Commissioner Steve Raspe voted yes because builder’s remedy doesn’t give the town much discretion over the project “While I have issues with this project — I wish it wasn’t next to the high school I wish it was smaller — I don’t see grounds that allow us to decline the project,” he said at the meeting Stump said he voted no not because he’s anti-development but because he’d like to see more detailed environmental impact studies on major issues such as the effect of traffic near the high school The traffic study showed the project would not negatively affect Los Gatos with 17 new car trips daily and we need to make sure that we are fully taking into account the cumulative impact of these projects that are significantly above mass scale height and density for Los Gatos,” Stump told San José Spotlight CSPN LLC did not respond to requests for comment Los Gatos must accommodate building at least 1,993 new homes by 2031 to comply with state housing mandates. The development spike across town has stirred controversy among residents, including plans for more than 100 homes where Ace Hardware is located Resident LeeAnn Wade, whose child attends the high school, said she wants the town to stand up to the state’s requirements and builder’s remedy projects because of how they could affect the high-fire risk town “A one-size-fits-all does not work in California and I do believe that with enough political pressure from towns and cities across the state that we can reduce the impact of this builder’s remedy on our communities,” she told San José Spotlight “I feel that Los Gatos has not pushed back one bit while there are plenty of other towns and cities that have.” Contact Annalise Freimarck at [email protected] or follow @annalise_ellen on X It can’t be worse than a lonely homemaker throwing preppy booze parties for LGHS students with six affordable homes and 2,416 square feet of ground floor retail space” The town of Los Gatos needs to update some older buildings and affordable housing is imperative ask any of the retail shop owners and they’ll tell you the challenges of trying to find employees You must be logged in to post a comment 408.206.5327[email protected] Los Gatos wants clarity over a housing dispute with the state and land use experts say the results of the legal spat could slow needed housing Los Gatos requested legal clarification from the Santa Clara County Superior Court March 28 about a land use disagreement between the town and California Department of Housing and Community Development The town is disputing the state’s claim that developers using builder’s remedy — a law exempting developers from local zoning laws when municipalities are noncompliant with state housing mandates — have an unlimited number of 90-day periods to submit a formal application Town officials argue developers have one 90-day period for their formal application until it expires The legal action could affect some of the town’s 12 pending builder’s remedy applications, including the controversial 175 homes proposed for The Arya development at the Ace Hardware site and 120 homes proposed for The Luxe development in the North 40 project The town wants applications for both projects located at 15300 to 15330 and 14849 Los Gatos boulevards respectively to expire if the court rules in Los Gatos’ favor Mayor Matthew Hudes said the town wants clarity so it can better handle builder’s remedy applications He said the town is still processing applications for the area’s needed housing adding the state’s interpretation has unintended consequences “An unlimited length of time for an application to be open allows for property development to be delayed an infinite amount of time,” Hudes told San José Spotlight “Without moving through a process where there are timelines essentially doesn’t produce housing at all A spokesperson with the California Department of Housing and Community Development said the agency is aware of the action, but can’t comment on the case. The spokesperson referred San José Spotlight to a letter the agency sent the town Feb 12 stating Los Gatos’ failure to “not reset the 90-day period after each incompleteness determination would be in potential violation of state housing law.” who owns the properties where The Arya and The Luxe are proposed said he doesn’t know enough about the legal action to comment said if the court rules in Los Gatos’ favor it’ll set a precedent that slows growth she appealed a Cupertino housing application’s expiration after the city deemed it incomplete She said meeting a single 90-day period is often not possible because of all that is needed for a final application “Our state is in a housing crisis borne in large part due to the difficulty of getting projects approved,” Griswold told San José Spotlight “If Los Gatos is successful in its action for declaratory relief this will reintroduce uncertainty in the housing development application process that state legislators have been working hard to reduce More risk means fewer homes will be built.” it would mean the projects under builder’s remedy that exceeded the first 90-day period would be void Hudes said the intent is not to prevent development but to make housing laws clearer to serve the Los Gatos community “All of those different perspectives and requirements (make it) really important that we have clarity,” he said Contact Annalise Freimarck at [email protected] or follow @annalise_ellen on X You must be logged in to post a comment 408.206.5327[email protected] By: 5:30 am on February 28 Environmental review documents have been published for a mixed-use development at 143-151 East Main Street in Los Gatos, Santa Clara County The city has published a mitigated negative declaration finding that the project will not significantly harm the environment Capstack Partners is responsible for the application The 52-foot-tall structure will yield around 78,580 square feet and 31,000 square feet for the subterranean garage parking will be included for either 39 or 47 cars six will be designated as affordable housing Kenneth Rodrigues & Partners is responsible for the design the design “takes its cues from Los Gatos High School… and the many significant brick structures located on Main Street and North Santa Cruz.” Illustrations show the large structure imbued with a mix of classic Americana Main Street vernacular with inset balconies visually breaking up the elevation Facade materials will include a mix of brick veneers 143-151 East Main Street with area context 143-151 East Main Street existing condition image via Google Satellite outlined approximately by YIMBY Demolition will be required for the existing single-story commercial structure The 0.43-acre site is located along Main Street next to the Los Gatos High School Plans for the site were first submitted last May and has used Senate Bill 330 to streamline the approval process The estimated cost of construction has yet to be shared With the environmental document now published the Los Gatos Planning Commission expects to review the proposal during their scheduled meeting on March 26th this year ABB Robotics is serving up the future of fast food with BurgerBots – a groundbreaking new restaurant concept launched in Los Gatos the automated kitchen uses ABB’s IRB 360 FlexPicker® and YuMi® collaborative robot to assemble meals with precision and speed while accurately monitoring stock levels and freeing staff to focus on customer experience The compact robotic cell is a food automation first seamlessly integrating two types of robots with an intelligent inventory monitoring system a freshly cooked burger patty is placed onto a bun inside a burger box This box is then positioned on a conveyor shuttle the IRB 360 FlexPicker® hygienically performs high-speed topping selection the YuMi® steps in to collaborate on the final assembly of the burger The entire process takes just 27 seconds per burger ABB’s robot controller also integrates seamlessly with non-robotic systems enabling real-time ingredient inventory tracking – onions lettuce and condiments – ensuring smooth operations and efficient kitchen management One of the greatest challenges facing restaurant owners today is attracting and retaining staff.3 High turnover and the repetitive nature of back-of-house roles continue to put pressure on hospitality businesses Automation presents an opportunity not just to fill labor gaps but to make foodservice jobs more sustainable and appealing by reducing tedious tasks and improving workflows a recent survey commissioned by ABB Robotics found that 67 per cent of hospitality workers agreed that robotics and automation should be used to reduce the amount of dull dangerous work humans are doing in the hospitality industry4 While 63 per cent agreed that the idea of robotics making their job easier is exciting 65 per cent agreed that they would welcome robots in their workplace if it meant a safer work environment BurgerBots is the brainchild of entrepreneur Elizabeth Truong who sees the Los Gatos location as the first step in a broader commercial rollout BurgerBots is the latest in a number of innovations in the food service industry supported by robotic technology ABB’s collaboration with RoboEatz on ARK – an autonomous robotic kitchen capable of preparing hundreds of meals with minimal human intervention – showcases the potential for high-efficiency ABB is powering Makr Shakr’s robotic bartenders that will soon be expertly mixing drinks in venues around the world these applications demonstrate how robotics is transforming hospitality with speed and consistency The first BurgerBots cell is now open and operating at the chic Breaking Dawn/First Born restaurant in downtown Los Gatos, California. For more information, visit www.burgerbots.com 1 Survey of 750 US hospitality managers and 1,250 hospitality workers conducted by Censuswide for ABB (April 2025).  2 Survey of 750 US hospitality managers and 1,250 hospitality workers conducted by Censuswide for ABB (April 2025).  3 The National Restaurant Association reported in 2024 that three out of four employees leave their roles within a year.  4 Survey of 750 US hospitality managers and 1,250 hospitality workers conducted by Censuswide for ABB (April 2025).  By combining robotics and precision engineering BurgerBots delivers consistently high-quality burgers with speed Designed for scalability and customer experience the BurgerBots platform reduces operational costs and ensures food safety – all while serving up the perfect burger Whether for high-traffic venues or on-the-go locations BurgerBots is reshaping how the world thinks about fast food ABB's website uses cookies. By staying here you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn more I agree Ashley Byington brushes her horse Pete in his stall at Bear Creek Stables in Los Gatos Pete is the third horse she’s boarded there and while she said it was “a great place to grow up,” the dilapidated stables have seen better days the facility is one step closer to restoring its former glory The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space board of directors unanimously approved a temporary contract extension March 26 with nonprofit Friends of Bear Creek Stables allowing its members to continue providing basic care for the 19 horses on site until December The contract was supposed to last from January through June but was extended to give Friends of Bear Creek Stables more time to raise the $250,000 needed for Midpen to sign a 12-year contract and make the nonprofit its long-term operator The nonprofit has raised roughly $60,000 to date after the former operator If Friends of Bear Creek Stables is selected as the long-term operator it will need to raise another $250,000 and rake in $100,000 from boarding fees and programming before fully starting restoration the nonprofit can start reinstating more programming and must contractually serve at least 3,000 visitors annually who represents the district where the stables are housed said the temporary contract shifted the conversation about the stables — from uncertainty to determination “The fundraising target here is aggressive and I think it’s good to see that because I think if we can do that… it will mean that (we’re) not just operating on a shoestring,” he said at the meeting so I’m really looking forward to seeing this go forward.” The vote comes after the board almost shuttered the stables last November because they needed up to $10.5 million in repairs after years of neglect and lengthy permit delays plus an estimated $300,000 in annual operating costs is a bill Midpen would largely have to cover even after using some funds from Measure AA — a 30-year Friends of Bear Creek Stables members fought for the stable which used to board 72 horses in Los Gatos’ Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve has advocated for the stables for about 11 years She said she’s glad Midpen is seeing eye-to-eye with Friends of Bear Creek Stables because the site is beloved “I feel super grateful,” Moore told San José Spotlight “There’s so many people that have come together (for this).” The stables have a lengthy history in the Los Gatos mountains and some of the original buildings like the Tevis barn are still standing Byington said she’s thankful she still gets to bring her 5-year-old to the historic stables adding it’s great to see them on a positive trajectory again “It’s stayed special just because everyone who’s been here has always really worked so hard to keep it so nice and family-friendly,” she told San José Spotlight “The community has always been so positive Contact Annalise Freimarck at [email protected] or follow @annalise_ellen on X You must be logged in to post a comment 408.206.5327[email protected] Los Gatos resident Gordon Yamate remembers overhearing a conversation between his parents when he was in third grade They had decided to move back to the West Valley from San Jose but didn’t feel comfortable returning to his mother’s hometown of Los Gatos The rejection by developers was subtle but clear — Asian American families needed to look elsewhere The family moved to Saratoga where the Asian American community was welcomed Yamate believes racially restrictive covenants — language in property deeds — have something to do with his family’s decision but the same language explicitly stating a home should not be sold to people of color still exists on thousands of deeds in Santa Clara County today The discriminatory language isn’t legal and hasn’t been enforceable since 1948 nearly one in four homes countywide included deeds with the language is working in Los Gatos to redact the harmful language and inform his community about its past alongside the county There are hundreds in the county’s unincorporated hills bordering the town which includes his mother’s time in a Wyoming Japanese American internment camp along with finding racist language in his Los Angeles home’s deed “This is how we got here,” he told San José Spotlight. “This is how we became one of the most segregated communities in Northern California.” The Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder’s Office began looking into the problem and redacting language in 2022 after Assembly Bill 1466 was signed into law The bill required counties statewide to begin programs identifying and redacting the language from property documents The county has gone through about 25% of the roughly 24 million property deeds in collaboration with Stanford RegLab researchers who trained artificial intelligence to recognize the language The university’s modern solution to a decades-old problem is a first among nationwide efforts Stanford released data in October analyzing about 5.2 million pages of property deeds from 1865 to 1980 The data revealed 10 developers were responsible for nearly one-third of the racist language in deeds Surani’s apartment was once one of the properties subject to these covenants with the clause that it “shall never be occupied by any person not of the Caucasian race.” “This is not something that’s in a book still are,” Surani told San José Spotlight The county aims to finish processing the documents by 2027 but redact the language online and elsewhere said the project is personal to him as someone with Sicilian and Native American heritage He said there were many of these covenants near where he grew up in Santa Clara County “These are historical actions that occurred way long ago that really should have never occurred,” he told San José Spotlight we’re doing the right thing to make sure that it is corrected now.” Santa Clara County is full of hotspots with hundreds of racially discriminatory covenants an unincorporated mountain community about 6.5 miles from Los Gatos The communities surrounding Redwood Estates push the number to about 1,000 a resident who lived in the estates for five years and is building her future home there said most people don’t know about the discriminatory language “I would just want (the language to be) changed more than anything,” she told San José Spotlight Other hotspots include the area near the Los Altos Country Club Oak Hill Cemetery has 41 covenants stating only a white person can be buried in certain plots The hotspots likely shaped the demographics of today’s neighborhoods New Museum Los Gatos registrar and history programs manager The museum has been in touch with the county and is exploring an exhibit on the subject Thompson said the fact that Los Gatos has remained about 67% white, according to 2023 U.S. Census data, while other communities have become more diverse could point to the covenants’ effects “It didn’t just happen that way — it was designed in some way right?” she told San José Spotlight “I definitely think they most likely played a role.” The county will help residents who know this language is in their deeds but they have to find it first — which is tricky even with an address and prior owner information Chiaramonte said fewer than a dozen of the county’s redactions are because of resident requests Yamate wants to make that process simpler by talking with title companies who are willing to offer documents for free or at a reduced rate for residents curious if their deeds contain harmful language He’s collaborating with the New Museum to list the companies on its website Yamate also wants the Los Gatos Town Council to make a proclamation acknowledging the covenants via a Diversity Equity and Inclusion Commission recommendation The town is adding information about the county’s program to its website as a result of the commission’s efforts Surani said just because the covenants aren’t enforceable “It’s one thing to find them and remove them But if a covenant is redacted and no one’s around to see it “This is not like a few random bad apples kind of thing This is really key to the story of what this place is and how it was built.” Contact Annalise Freimarck at [email protected] or follow @annalise_ellen on X You must be logged in to post a comment 408.206.5327[email protected] Los Gatos resident Rob Stump never knows when he might get that dreaded insurance company call who lives in a home nestled along one-way winding roads in the tree-covered Los Gatos hillside needs wildfire protection — but he doesn’t know if State Farm will renew his coverage next year as major insurers abandon California It’s a statewide dilemma for homeowners in high fire risk areas forcing many to look for protection through the California FAIR plan The state-syndicated program is pricier insurance that only covers fire as a last resort for people who can’t get coverage elsewhere who lives in a rustic neighborhood of about 60 homes His neighbor Jon Witty had to switch from Nationwide Insurance to the FAIR plan for his Lake Tahoe home a few years ago to $6,266 after joining the FAIR plan to protect against fire loss in addition to his standard plan Witty’s Los Gatos home hasn’t felt the insurance pain yet because his policy expires next year but everyone in his neighborhood is resigned to the same fate “It’s very disconcerting to every year wonder Is this the year we lose our insurance?'” Witty told San José Spotlight “It’s a little bit like being in a firefight and trying to figure out when the sniper has you in the sight.” A State Farm spokesperson referred San José Spotlight to Janet Ruiz Insurance Information Institute director of strategic communication Ruiz said this largely goes back to Proposition 103 a 1988 law requiring the state’s insurance commissioner to approve new insurance rates The legislation kept California insurance premiums lower than the nationwide average which Ruiz said created an unsustainable business model for insurers dealing with inflation and climate change the FAIR plan went from nearly 154,500 policies in 2019 to 408,432 in June as traditional insurers left the market and are not eager to return unless state regulations match their business models “Every aspect of our lives that has gone up the insurance companies have to pay when you have a loss,” Ruiz told San José Spotlight The state is trying to entice insurers back Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced last year California would begin implementing a sustainable insurance strategy that would allow insurers to use forward-looking catastrophe models to set rates rather than the existing practice of looking at the area’s history which she said will slowly bring insurers back The California Department of Insurance did not respond to requests for comment president of the Personal Insurance Federation of California “We’ve had a mindset in California where we want to push down rates on these large insurance companies you need an adult in the room,” he told San José Spotlight “Why do we have a system that acts as if a hotter Stump understands insurers’ need to charge higher rates in a catastrophe prone area. He said because he lives in the hills where one stray spark could decimate his entire neighborhood “I’m not one of these individuals that’s out running around and go poor me,’ because I choose to live here,” he told San José Spotlight “It’s like moving in next to an airport and complaining about the airport.” His neighborhood wasn’t always this risky. When Stump’s parents bought the house in 1965, they never worried about fire. There were fewer trees and climate change wasn’t a conversation, even when a fire in 1997 destroyed six homes in another Los Gatos hillside neighborhood Stump’s wake-up-call was in 2019, when a house burned down near him. Since then, Stump has spearheaded his community’s participation in Firewise USA, a program that helps reduce wildfire risk through education Stump said almost all of the 60 homes in the neighborhood pitched in $700 each to clear dry brush and trees from the roadside Witty said he’s spent about $35,000 on tree and brush removal over the past four years Erica Ray, spokesperson for the Santa Clara County Fire Department “Once the traditional insurance market comes back Look at what we’ve done,'” he said “‘Look at all the measures we’ve taken to reduce the threat of wildfire in this area so that we might become attractive to the traditional insurance market.'” Contact Annalise Freimarck at [email protected] or follow @annalise_ellen on X It’s good to hear that California politicians are preventing insurance companies from “price gouging” and I’m thrilled that it’s working so well for consumers I’m looking forward to the Harris administration doing the same with consumer goods and I’m sure it will work just as well for consumers with a bevy of companies eagerly offering products to the public at the price the government finds acceptable You must be logged in to post a comment 408.206.5327[email protected] Two major retailers are slated to fill an empty space in Los Gatos that’s been partially vacant since 2008 Sand Hill Property Company is putting in a Whole Foods Market and a Tesla showroom and service center between 15500 and 15650 Los Gatos Blvd. where a Moore Buick General Motors Company and Chevrolet dealership were previously located The development sits on more than 7 acres and is under construction Los Gatos greenlit the final approvals and permits last year The existing Whole Foods in the Cornerstone of Los Gatos shopping center, at the intersection of Los Gatos Boulevard and Blossom Hill Road, will relocate into a larger, roughly 43,000-square-foot space. The market is planned to open between late 2025 and 2026, while Tesla is expected to open in early to mid 2025 Steve Lynch, Sand Hill Property Company director of planning and entitlement, said the project fills a spot that’s been blighted for years. The Palo Alto-based company is also developing Cupertino’s largest housing project at the former Vallco Mall site “Los Gatos is a premium community and to have (a) vacant building on the corner sit in a derelict state for that long it was really an eyesore,” Lynch told San José Spotlight The new Tesla location fits with the town’s demographic and its neighbor Saratoga Los Gatos’ average annual income per household from 2018 to 2022 was about $198,000 and Saratoga’s was $237,730 Councilmember Maria Ristow said constituents have complained to her about the empty space on one of the town’s main corridors She sees the redevelopment of the corner as a positive addition that could make the town more walkable “Los Gatos calls itself a full-service community and I know it’s important to attract businesses that our residents desire,” she told San José Spotlight “These businesses will add to the vitality of Los Gatos Boulevard meet the existing demand for products and increase sales tax revenue which helps pay for the town services and infrastructure improvements our residents value.” “(Large housing development is) going to change the dynamics in many different ways,” he told San José Spotlight but is it necessarily a good thing for the people that live here today?” Contact Annalise Freimarck at [email protected] or follow @annalise_ellen on X You must be logged in to post a comment 408.206.5327[email protected] An iconic restaurant in downtown Los Gatos renowned for its fresh fish and handmade pasta is shutting its doors after nearly half a century Steamer’s The Grillhouse is closing after 45 years in business due to rising operational costs. What began in 1979 as a family business run by siblings Mark, Linda and Paul Matulich, the upscale restaurant known for its seafood and cocktails turned into a downtown staple marinated in garlic But the restaurant wasn’t able to keep its head above water and reach an affordable lease agreement in combination with the fact that he and his siblings aren’t “spring chickens” anymore said the restaurant’s last day will be Dec He said in the many decades he’s run the restaurant he’s learned a valuable lesson — don’t ever do it It’s a labor of love,” he told San José Spotlight Steamer’s first opened in 1979 with 12 tables and no dishwasher Matulich said someone who was supposed to help cook never showed making fish dishes to differentiate the restaurant from what he saw as the steakhouse craze but Matulich said he has never been able to get rid of the homemade linguini he introduced around 1981 The dish is topped with large wild blue prawns soaked in an aromatic garlic lemon butter sauce San Jose resident Karen Parsons has been going to the restaurant for about 25 years She and her sister go there each year for their birthdays and don’t know what they’re going to do with the impending closure Her favorite order is the lunch tacos made with crispy fish or prawns in corn tortillas under layers of marinated white onions “It was just something that we just got into the habit of doing It was like ‘We’re gonna celebrate your birthday let’s go to Steamer’s,'” she told San José Spotlight “It was that kind of place that just felt good for doing that type of thing.” Steamer’s is offering its weekly Wine Wednesdays and bringing back some old favorites no longer on the menu It will also offer select nights with reduced cocktail prices to clear out the bar While the treasured restaurant is closing its doors at its existing location Matulich said he’s been eyeing another Los Gatos location Matulich said he has to consider his and his family’s health before committing to more work who has been frequenting the restaurant since 1983 and now lives in Santa Clara She’s seen the restaurant’s evolution from more casual dining to a higher end experience as a regular who used to visit its bar every day Her favorites include the creamy clam chowder and any kind of white fish he’ll take it easy after decades of service “I want to go eat food and be waited on,” Matulich said “I’m looking forward to that… I want to be a customer.” You must be logged in to post a comment 408.206.5327[email protected]