subject: Santana Row Hotels, Shops, And Rentals [print this page] The Green Revolution is in full swing and one of the greener flash points just happens to be in San Jose, California. Thanks in large part to it's economic development that began in the Sixties, the city is still managing to stay aloft, even in this current economic recession. This prompted the city to meet the needs of a growing urban demands and create the renown Santana Row shopping complex.
If you're coming to visit Santana Row hotels will be the least of your concerns. The complex is the intersection of shopping, dining and residential living. It's 680,000 square feet of retail space that includes 1,200 luxury residential units, a 214-room hotel, a 12-screen movie theater, and approximately 5,200 parking spaces. This tremendous complex is renown, aside from its size, for it's green building methods.
Perched on a staggering 43 acres of land, Santana Row has evolved from a proposed shopping mall into something quite unique. It is now something of a one-stop spot for all things retail, rental, and movie related. Moreover, it's one of the most pedestrian-friendly areas in the entire city. Despite the 5,200 parking spots, it's one of the few places in San Jose designed to reduce carbon emissions.
Optimal land management is one of the key facets of environmentally sound building. To be sure, building a multi-purpose complex can be problematic. The needs of consumers aren't necessarily the needs of residents. Consumers want to be able to get in and out of a store. Residents want to be left alone and not pestered by throngs of people. Despite these conflicting needs, Santana Row manages to balance them all.
During the initial phases, many critics panned the Santana Row project. They felt the green building methods would cause undo delays and that the conflicting nature of the property would nullify its attempts to attract both retailers and renters. As it happens, the project has been an unbelievable success. It has become one of the most visited attractions in the city.
