History
More than nine years ago, the San José City
Council, under the direction of former Mayor Susan
Hammer, identified the need for a new City Hall
as a way to reduce the costs of leased office space
and to enhance public service. In November 1996,
61% of San José voters approved Measure
I, which authorized a new downtown City Hall on
the condition that the costs of the project would
be paid from the savings generated by the elimination
of the equivalent leased office space and the consolidation
of city facilities and services.
The new San José City Hall benefits the people of San José by
saving taxpayers money, improving customer service and city efficiency, complementing
downtown development strategies, and becoming a civic landmark that reflects
the pride and stature of our community. The building incorporates environmentally
efficient systems that reduce long-term operating costs and energy usage for
years to come.
The public was involved at every step of this
project, including site selection, design, traffic,
and construction impacts. A community task force
and an extensive public process helped select the
current project site in 1998.
The City Council identified the following key goals for the new City Hall:
- Customer service improvements such as a one-start
service center
- Consolidate many City services at a central
site
- Make technological and efficiency improvements
- Establish a foundation to attract additional
private investment to underserved areas of downtown,
while minimizing the loss of tax increment revenue
- Provide easy access to transportation alternatives
- Establish a landmark and space for civic celebrations
that foster community pride
- Provide multiple public meeting rooms
- Create a state-of-the-art Council Chambers
to support productive public dialogue
- Reflect the vitality, diversity, and creativity
of San José
- Incorporate effective sustainable design elements
into the project
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