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As real estate markets in other sought-after Santa Clara Valley areas become saturated, San Jose has the opportunity to reinvent itself. Following the example set by many of its famous tech start-ups, it has taken that opportunity with gusto!

San Jose’s incoming and expanding companies fuel job growth while creating a healthy demand for new housing projects. The downtown area in particular is transforming into a bustling live-work-play neighborhood with new residential towers bringing density to the business district. With this growth, office leasing is on the rise and even Apple and Google are eyeing the San Jose market for future expansions.

Using Google’s Street View to travel back in time, we have pinpointed some of the hottest developments that have recently added vertical appeal to San Jose’s skyline. Take the journey back with us and see how much The Capital of Silicon Valley changed in the last 8 years.

Simply move the slider arrow back and forth to see the old and the new images.

1. River Park Tower II, Downtown

Year Built: 2009

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Sitting at 300 Park Avenue, River Park Tower II is a Class A, 16-story office tower. This 318,372-square-foot, LEED Gold project joined its existing twin tower after almost 20 years. It was built using the materials stored from when the project was dropped in the 1990s. The developer Legacy Partners dodged default in 2013, after 4 years without tenants by securing two leases in 2014.

2. 360 Residences, Downtown

Year Built: 2010

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360 Residences is a 23-story, 213-unit luxury apartment building with 11,000 square feet of street level retail space. The 1-3 bedroom units offer floor to ceiling windows, a concierge, a fitness center, and an outdoor pool. Originally developed by Mesa Development LLC as condominiums, the project went into default, and was purchased by Kennedy Wilson which brought it back as apartments in 2010. In 2012 they sold to Capri Capital Partners LLC for $118 million.

3. San Jose Airport ConRAC, Airport Area

Year Built: 2010

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The City of San Jose created the 1.8 million-square-foot San Jose Airport ConRAC, a 7-deck, 3,000-space consolidated rental car facility. It offers rental car companies the ability to operate fueling, maintenance, and wash their fleet all within one building. The ConRAC is topped by a solar array that supplies 20% of its power.

4. Fourth Street Apartments, Downtown

Year Built: 2012

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Developed by the non-profit First Community Housing, Fourth Street Apartments, at 1460 North 4th Street, is a 9-story, 100-unit affordable apartment development. These LEED Platinum 1-3 bedroom units house low income households with 35 of the units set aside for occupants with developmental disabilities. The building features an award winning vegetated living roof, a rooftop photovoltaic system, two stories of structured parking, and a playground.

5. 6001 America Center, Alviso

Year Built: 2009

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Legacy Partners’ 6-floor, LEED Gold, 6001 America Center is one of two identical commercial office buildings. Together, the buildings provide 420,000 square feet of new office space. It sat vacant for 3 years but was 80% leased with tech companies by 2012. In 2013 USAA Real Estate acquired both 6001 and 6201 America Center Drive.

6. Villa Valencia West, West San Jose

Year Built: 2007

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Conveniently located at 1399 South Winchester Blvd., just blocks of Santana Row, the 4-story, mixed-use Villa Valencia West is a collection of 48 condos, 9 townhomes, and ground level retail. It features underground parking, a courtyard garden, and a playground. These one- and two-bedroom condos include balconies and kitchens with wood cabinetry and granite counters.

7. Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, Fruitdale

Year Built: In progress

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In an expansion geared towards meeting new hospital earthquake codes, Santa Clara County is expanding the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center at 751 South Bascom Ave., with a $300 million, six-story, 375,000-square-foot replacement building. After 5 years, the original building company, Turner Construction, was locked out and fired for delays in late 2015. The county has since hired the Boldt Company to take over the project and aims for completion in late 2016.

8. Casa Feliz Apartments, South University Neighborhood

Year Built: 2009

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The 60 unit, single-room occupancy Casa Feliz Apartments at 525 South 9th Street is another First Community Housing supportive development designed to mainstream developmentally disabled residents. The 4-story, LEED Gold residential building serves extremely low income tenants and provides studios, one level of parking, and residential service coordination.

9. Centerra, Downtown

Year Built: 2015

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Simeon Residential Properties developed Centerra, a 347-unit, 21-story Class A rental tower with 7,000 square feet of retail space. The wedding cake-shaped skyscraper offers a podium which holds amenities including a pool, dog zone, outdoor areas, a gym, and bike storage. An interesting design feature is the parking garage located in the core of the building allowing retail and residential units to encircle the entire base.

10. One South Market, Downtown

Year Built: 2015

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The 23-story, blue glass One South Market is a LEED Silver, 312-unit apartment tower with ground floor retail space, developed by Essex Property Trust. It features junior 1 to 3 bedroom apartment homes with in-unit washer and dryers, gourmet kitchens, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Building amenities include bike storage, a fitness center, a swimming pool, and a gated garage.

Which developments are changing your San Jose neighborhood?

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