Bob Staedler has had a front-row seat to witness and influence many of the changes in downtown San Jose and throughout the rest of the Bay Area’s largest city.

Now principal executive with the land-use planning and consulting firm Silicon Valley Synergy, Staedler was a former real estate manager with San Jose’s now-defunct Redevelopment Agency during its heyday and when it shut down.

Staedler believes San Jose now has another opportunity to transform its downtown with a burst of potential projects such as the planned Google transit-oriented village, where the search giant could employ up to 20,000 workers; a new Adobe office tower; multiple office projects; residential towers; along with restaurants and nightlife.

This news organization sat down with Staedler to talk about downtown today and what he sees ahead.

Q: What is the current state of downtown San Jose?

A: Downtown San Jose is at a crossroads for the next evolution of San Jose’s urban development. The groundwork was laid by the past redevelopment agency and the city’s current work. It’s exciting to see things like Google and Adobe.

Q: Is San Jose exchanging its long-time DNA of urban sprawl for something better?

A: San Jose has been sprawling over the last 50 years. San Jose is getting back to its roots of innovation and developing jobs. It is catching up from the past zoning decisions. From now on, San Jose is going to grow up and not out. San Jose will approve more innovative asset types and developments in downtown San Jose.

Q: Do you see major changes in store?

A: It’s time for San Jose to evolve, for San Jose to create the jobs for a sustainable and active city, and a 24-hour downtown. People are excited to see the potential. We need people to be excited, to see the potential, to be innovative. It’s exciting to see San Jose change.

Q: How important is Google’s proposal for a transit-oriented community near Diridon Station?

A: The Google development is a complete game changer. It introduces San Jose to the world. The transit, the development, Google’s plans will make people look at San Jose the way they look at Barcelona and other major cities around the world. Transit-oriented development makes sense. Google is a leader. We don’t go to a dictionary anymore, we Google it. Google is being innovative in placing workers near transit. They say that luck is where chance meets opportunity, and that is what’s happening.

Q: Why didn’t the downtown evolve faster in the past?

A: Sometimes the market has to catch up to the golden dreams of a city. It depends on what developments the market will allow to be financed. You need a certain population level. At the Redevelopment Agency, we gave a lot of incentives. We subsidized the Fairmont Hotel and we insisted it not be a four-story building, but a tower. That’s what happened with the 50 W. San Fernando St. tower and The 88 tower. Sometimes you have to put the seeds in the ground and have the soil be ready. San Jose has put itself in the right place at the right time.

Q: Is there any concern that downtown San Jose is getting too many residential towers and not enough office buildings?

A: We had the same concern in past years. It’s a common concern. But we have to let the market determine what can be built and where. Google is planning offices, Adobe is moving ahead with an office tower, Trammell Crow has an office campus proposal, TMG has a project. You have existing sites such as the Valley Title building. You have the renovation of the Bank of Italy building. You look at WeWork coming downtown. WeWork is a huge barometer and bellwether that the downtown San Jose office market is alive and well.

Q: Does the city have to just stay out of the way sometimes?

A: If we do too many overlays or have too much regulation, that will stop all development. With opportunities like Google, you can’t force them to happen. You just have to create the right environment.

Q: Will Diridon Station become the Grand Central Terminal of the West Coast, as some have promised?

A: We need to get rid of the old ways of looking at transit. I want Diridon Station to become the Google Station of the West. People could go to their apps to see when a train is coming. It’s more important to be efficient and the right size than to be big. Transit has to be digitally integrated. People should use digital tools for transit, and Google could bring some innovations to Diridon. If I were the city, I would ask Google to be part of the fabric, not just of the nature, but the train station as well.

Q: What do you see as the major challenges to make the Google development a reality?

A: The biggest challenge is to maintain expectation and to not overburden entities with things that are not realistic. Google’s job is not to fix the city of San Jose. Google’s job is to enhance the urban fabric and be a good-faith partner with the city. People are often cast as heroes or villains. That is the most dangerous part of these kinds of deals. The key is not to expect too much from any one party.

Q: What would have been better for San Jose, an A’s stadium or a Google transit village?

A: Google village.

Q: What will downtown San Jose be like five years from now?

A: Five years from now, downtown San Jose will be in expansion mode with several projects being completed that are in the pipeline. It will be more vibrant.

Q: What about 10 years from now?

A: In 10 years, people will have a hard time remembering what downtown San Jose was like in 2018. It will be a bustling hub of activity and innovation. It never happens as quickly as we want. But I think it’s going to happen.

Bob Staedler profile

Position: Principal Executive, Silicon Valley Synergy.

Age: 45.

Birthplace: Merced, CA.

Residence: San Jose.

Education: San Jose State University.

Family: Wife, Stephanie and miniature beagle, Bailey.

Five things about Bob Staedler