San Jose Medical Center
Background
The San Jose Medical Center that was located at 675 East Santa Clara Street closed on December 9, 2004. Just prior to the closure, the City and County jointly funded a health study, commonly referred to as the “Zaretsky Study.” After completion, the study concluded that there was a demonstrated need for certain types of health care services in Downtown San José. In response, the City Council initiated a Request for Qualifications (RFQ). This process encouraged interested parties to submit proposals in order to determine the viability of re-using the San Jose Medical Center site for medical and health care services.
City staff and external advisors evaluated various proposals and recommended that the City Council either: 1) direct staff to conduct negotiations with two RFQ participants to create a joint development plan for an outpatient health care facility and a continuing care retirement community or 2) instruct staff to prepare a work plan for a stakeholder based community planning process for the San Jose Medical Center and surrounding properties. The Council decided to ask staff to initiate a community planning process.
On December 6, 2005, the City Council accepted a proposed work plan prepared by staff. On April 4, 2006, the staff presented a framework for community engagement, including composition and selection of a Stakeholders Advisory Committee (SAC), for the Former San Jose Medical Center Site Land Use-Healthcare Study. The committee’s task is to bring a recommended consensus-based land use plan that includes associated general plan amendments and zoning changes required for the redevelopment of the former San Jose Medical Center site. The SAC held its first monthly meeting on June 1, 2006.
The SAC process was intended to produce recommendations that would be shared with the City Council and members of the community for review of the potential health care and land use alternatives. The health care analysis included examining the potential for a comprehensive outpatient health services facility and the viability of a future hospital serving the greater Downtown area and North San Jose. The study was also intended to investigate opportunities for including a diverse range of housing and retail potential for the former hospital site and to address other economic and social issues that pertain to the surrounding community. In addition to working with the Stakeholders Advisory Committee, City staff also coordinated the process with other City departments including the Redevelopment Agency (Strong Neighborhoods Initiative), Office of Economic Development, Fire Department, Department of Transportation, and City Manager’s Office. The intent was to make this endeavor as open and informed a process as possible.
A community meeting was held on October 17, 2007 at City Hall to present the findings of the SAC process to the larger community for input and feedback. The meeting had an attendance of more than 115 people. After gathering public input and comments, the Stakeholders Advisory Committee adopted its Final Health Care and Land Use Recommendations on November 7, 2007.
On November 7, 2007, the Former San Jose Medical Center Stakeholders Advisory Committee adopted a set of Final Recommendations related to Health Care and Land Use matters resulting from the closure of the San Jose Medical Center in 2004. These recommendations were accepted by the City Council on March 18, 2008.
Click here for the Memo from Mayor Reed and Councilmember Liccardo
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