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Leavey School of Business Santa Clara University

Newsmakers

held nov. 3 on campus. Artwork for newsmakers

held nov. 3 on campus. Artwork for newsmakers

Santa Clara’s New “Agrihood” Housing Community : The Santa Clara Weekly

Santa Clara University hosted a panel discussion on a new environmentally and economically sustainable housing development, the “Agrihood.”

On November 3rd, Santa Clara University hosted a panel discussion on the “Agrihood,” a new environmentally and economically sustainable housing development located on a 6-acre site on Winchester. The panel was introduced by Bill Mains, Director of Sustainability and Leadership Development for the Leavey School of Business, and Katharine Rondthaler, the Manager of Santa Clara University’s Forge Garden. 

The plans for this “environmentally and economically sustainable approach to urban development” were proposed to the City of Santa Clara by CORE Companies with the main goal of ensuring Santa Clara's agricultural past can be preserved in an urban lifestyle.

An excerpt from the piece provides some context on the history of the land:
“The proposed “Agrihood” – located across the street from Valley Fair Shopping Center – was once part of a 17-acre agricultural research center last owned by the State of California. Vice Mayor O’Neill explained that state budget woes around the early 2000s forced the state to sell the land, but the city of Santa Clara could only afford through the Redevelopment Fund to purchase six of the open space acres. Then, during a contentious period in the city’s history, 11 of the acres were developed into housing. Santa Clara, however, didn’t have enough funds at the time to develop their acreage. Eventually, as the economy recovered, the city realized they needed “shovels in the ground” by January 2017 or the state could potentially retake the land. The city selected the CORE Companies’ proposal because they were most willing to look into creative possibilities for the acres.”

Read the full article here»

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