Bay Curious Redevelopment in San Jose is Hard. Cambrian Park Plaza Shows Us Why.
Apr 9, 2026
Katrina Schwartz, journalist and editor-producer who reported this story on Cambrian Park Plaza. She walks through the plaza’s faded heyday and current vacancy. She explores neighbors organizing for redevelopment and why proposed mixed-use plans struggle. She examines market headwinds, economic realism, and community fears about losing neighborhood gathering spaces.
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Cambrian Park Plaza’s Nostalgic Main Street Role
- Cambrian Park Plaza used to be a bustling neighborhood main street with a carousel sign and many local shops.
- Residents remember a bowling alley, ice cream parlor, grocery store, post office, and window-boxed facades that created a town-center feel.
Neighbors Organize to Save Their Plaza
- Longtime neighbors formed Friends of Cambrian Park Plaza to influence redevelopment and preserve neighborhood character.
- Bob Burris and Peter Clark lead local organizing, attending city meetings and pushing for a community-focused vision like Campbell’s Prune Yard.
San Jose’s Suburban Layout Drives Fiscal Strain
- San Jose developed as sprawling track-housing suburbs after WWII, creating a largely residential city with few large employers.
- That pattern makes running the city expensive because residential areas demand costly services while producing less commercial tax revenue.