Rincon South, San Jose Explained

Rincon South
Settlement Type:Neighborhood of San Jose
Mapsize:260px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:California
Subdivision Type2:City
Subdivision Name2:San Jose
Pushpin Map:United States San Jose
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within San Jose
Coordinates:37.3671°N -121.9138°W

Rincon South is a neighborhood of San Jose, California, located in North San Jose. Rincon South is a major employment hub for Silicon Valley businesses, and is home to numerous high tech companies.

History

The area takes its name from being the southernmost portion of the old Rancho Rincón de Los Esteros, a rancho grant given in 1838 to Ignacio Alviso, a prominent Californio ranchero and namesake of the Alviso neighborhood of San Jose. The majority of the former rancho makes up the Rincon de los Esteros district of North San Jose, which lies directly north of Rincon South.

In 1974, the government of San Jose instituted the Rincon de los Esteros Redevelopment Plan, to develop the Rincon de los Esteros district and Rincon South into major hubs for Silicon Valley.[1] In 1998, the city established the Rincon South Specific Plan to create a specialized strategy for developing the neighborhood into a dense mixed-use district, improving pedestrian accessibility and transit connections, and attracting tech companies to the area.[2] [3] [4]

In 2020, due to the ongoing California housing crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, the city purchased a motel within the neighborhood to convert to a transitional housing facility for the homeless.[5]

Geography

Rincon South is located in the North San Jose region of the city. Its boundaries are the Guadalupe Freeway (CA 87) to the west, Bayshore Freeway (US 101) to the east, and the Nimitz Freeway (I-880) to the south.[6]

Economy

Rincon South is an important economic hub for Silicon Valley. Notable companies based in the neighborhood include:

Transportation

Rincon South is one of the best served neighborhoods in San Jose in terms of transportation. San Jose International Airport is located immediately west of Rincon South. It is primarily accessed through the neighborhood.

The VTA light rail has two stations in Rincon South:

The neighborhood has easy access to Guadalupe Freeway (CA-87), Highway 101, and the Nimitz Freeway (I-880).

Parks and plazas

Notes and References

  1. http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?meta_id=625602 City of San José - North San José Retail & Amenities Strategy
  2. https://healthyplacesindex.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2011_san_jose_general_plan_community_forest_policies.pdf City of San José - Envision San José 2040 General Plan
  3. https://www.sanjoseca.gov/Home/ShowDocument?id=15497 City of San José - Rincon South Specific Plan
  4. https://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/weinstein.agrawal/URBP256_Reading_DraftSanJosePedMasterPlan.pdf San José State University - San José Pedestrian Master Plan
  5. [Mercury News]
  6. https://library.municode.com/ca/san_jose/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT20ZO_CH20.85SPHERE_PT1GEPR_20.85.010SPHERE City of San José - Codes of Ordinance: Chapter 20.85
  7. https://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=2662&meta_id=605410 City of San José - Rincon South Park Master Plan and Name