Downtown San Jose may soon double in size as Google pushes developments ahead

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KTVU) - San Jose may soon get the bustling downtown city leaders have always dreamed of: towering offices, residences, and public plazas... right next to a massive transit hub to rival Grand Central Station.

But the city won't be building this on its own. It will do it in partnership with Google.

The Google project would be massive. 8 to 10-million square feet near Diridon Station.

A Google spokesperson released this statement today saying "we look forward to collaborating with officials and community members."

And they're not the only ones moving in downtown. Amazon has arrived, and Adobe is planning a massive expansion.

Mayor Sam Liccardo tells KTVU's Ann Rubin that more and more tech companies are re-discovering the city center.

"Continuing to sprawl in the suburban pattern is making our housing less affordable. It's making our freeways more congested, andd increasingly tech leaders, I think, are getting it and they recognize the urgency of focusing on a more-urban model" says Mayor Sam Liccardo.

This includes building around transportation and including housing in the plans.

Right now, parcel after parcel of land is being purchased around Diridon Station. Some by Google. 

And while the official plans are in their infancy, land use consultants say this appears to be a thoughtful partnership with the city.

The city of San Jose and Google are still negotiating land price and hope to enter into a development agreement in the next year.