David J. Powers & Associates, Inc.

The Energy Hub, a development by Westbank Corp, Urban + Community, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company, is in the news! The Energy Hub is one of seven large, net zero, green buildings proposed for development in downtown San José. DJP&A’s Fiona Phung and Shannon George prepared a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report for The Energy Hub, located at 35 South 2nd Street. The development will construct a 21-story curvilinear mixed-use building with up to 194 dwelling units, approximately 32,000 square feet of ground floor retail, 406,000 square feet of office space, and a 10-story high passageway located beneath the archway on the ground floor. To support the growing demand for energy and help the City meet its net zero goals, the development would be designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Core & Shell (LEED C&S) Platinum certification and International Living Future Institute's (ILFI) Zero Carbon Certification. Additionally, the project would include green roofs and green walls to contribute to pollution control, reduce the City’s ambient temperature, retain rainwater, and act as a carbon dioxide (CO2) sink. You can read more about these up and coming green developments in the following San Jose Business Journal article. https://lnkd.in/ggXdGstq

There are various ways to streamline environmental review for housing projects. For a brief summary of the more common CEQA streamlining opportunities for housing projects, swipe below – or contact your favorite DJP&A Project Manager! #housing #development #ceqa #construction

The City of San José recently approved five electronic signs by Orange Barrel Media on four City-owned properties in downtown San José in accordance with Title 23 of the San José Municipal Code and Council Policy 6-4. DJP&A’s Natalie Noyes, AICP and Kristy Weis completed the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the project, which provided detailed site-specific analysis of all five sign locations. DJP&A was supported by our technical subconsultants at Archaeological/Historical Consultants, Cornerstone Earth Group, Inc., H. T. Harvey & Associates, Illingworth & Rodkin, Inc., Lighting Design Alliance, and Treanor. DJP&A also coordinated closely with the City to prepare comprehensive responses to public comments on this controversial project. Read more about the recently approved project in the following article from The Mercury News. https://lnkd.in/g3za4qW4

Congratulations to the City of Gilroy on the recent approval of the Ren Fu Villa Residential project! With the project’s approval, the approximately 37.5-acre undeveloped site will be rezoned to be consistent with the established General Plan land use designation and subdivided into 54 single-family lots. The future residences will be constructed in clusters around the property to allow the central portion of the site with Babbs Creek, a pond, and associated riparian habitat to remain undisturbed. DJP&A and our talented subconsultant team including H. T. Harvey & Associates and Cornerstone Earth Group, Inc. initially prepared a constraints analysis for the project site to evaluate the complex biological resources and geotechnical conditions on-site. This constraints analysis was used to inform the final design of the project, which was fully evaluated in an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration supported by more technical studies by Illingworth & Rodkin, Inc., Hexagon Transportation Consultants, Inc., and Archaeological/Historical Consultants. Contact Nick Towstopiat and Kristy Weis for more information on the environmental review for this project. Rendering courtesy of Karen Aitken & Associates: Landscape Architects.

A new development is breaking ground in the City of Santa Clara. Congratulations to Kapital Partners on starting construction on their residential mixed use development at 2655 The Alameda. DJP&A’s Shannon George and Patrick Kallas prepared an Initial Study for this project, which included a General Plan Amendment to increase the allowable density on-site. A key environmental issue for the site was hazardous materials because the site had been previously used as a gas station. DJP&A closely reviewed technical information and coordinated with the City to ensure appropriate mitigation measures are implemented. Just another reason quality environmental review and expert guidance make a difference in the development entitlement process! 

DJP&A’s Carolyn Mogollon and Kristy Weis attended the 2025 Silicon Valley Outlook event hosted by The Registry and the City of Fremont yesterday evening. The event featured a presentation and panels of industry leaders in the fields of construction, development, property management, and real estate who shared their insights on the local development market and trends. Speakers included Gary Baragona, Janet Galvez, Bryan McKrell, Rebecca Perlmutter Finkel, Dave Hopkins, Deke Hunter, and Doug McDonald. Forecasts shared during the event suggested that the greatest amount of growth this year may be seen in the multifamily and industrial sectors. Thanks for hosting such an insightful event The Registry and City of Fremont! #realestate #development #environment

Last Friday, DJP&A Project Managers Michael Lisenbee and Amy Wang sharpened their CEQA skills at California Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP)’s 2025 Advanced CEQA Workshop hosted at Valley Water. Key topics covered include case law updates, best practices for preparing addenda, streamlining CEQA documents, and new accessibility requirements. DJP&A closely follows the latest CEQA updates to provide quality environmental review to our clients. 

Please join us in congratulating John Hesler on his 43rd work anniversary with DJP&A! As Dave Powers’ first hire, John has seen the company grow and adapt throughout the years and continually draws from his wealth of experience to provide insight to the rest of the DJP&A team and our clients. We appreciate all you do for the company, John!

DJP&A Staff recently attended the State of Santa Clara Real Estate and Development Market study session to learn more about national and local development market trends. We would like to thank the Urban Land Institute for providing information and their insight about this important topic and the City of Santa Clara for hosting this event. Key discussions were about factors limiting development in the Bay Area and how area plans and streamlining efforts can create more certainty in development markets. Here at DJP&A, environmental review of area plans and subsequent streamlining projects is one of our specialties! We would love to discuss environmental review streamlining opportunities with you, please call us at 408-248-3500 or email info@davidjpowers.com.  #realestate #development #environment

Even though Super Bowl LIX recently wrapped up, we are already looking forward to Super Bowl LX and the FIFA World Cup! That’s because Levi's® Stadium will be hosting these great events in 2026 and, in anticipation, is getting sound system and video board upgrades. DJP&A prepared the original Levi’s Stadium Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and DJP&A’s Fiona Phung and Shannon George recently completed an Addendum to the EIR for the upgrades. We are grateful to the City of Santa Clara for the opportunity to assist them with the environmental review for the stadium. You can read more about the upgrades and upcoming events in the following The Mercury News article by Grace Hase: https://lnkd.in/g2ezHPdc