Related Santa Clara, one of the largest projects in the Bay Area, plans to create over 9 million square feet of offices, housing, hotels and retail on 240 acres next to Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers.

Developer Related Cos. intends to start construction next year on the $8 billion project, previously known as CityPlace Santa Clara, which survived dueling lawsuits between Santa Clara and its neighbor, San Jose. The first phase is set to open in 2023.

In a battle over Silicon Valley’s future growth, San Jose sued Santa Clara in 2016 and alleged that the project, which includes 5.4 million square feet of office space and 1,680 housing units, would lead to more housing demand and additional traffic in San Jose.

In response to San Jose’s lawsuit, Santa Clara sued to block Santana Row, a large office project planned in San Jose. The two cities settled both lawsuits last year, allowing both Related Santa Clara and Santana Row to be built in exchange for payments to both cities to fund transit improvements.

The clash underscored Silicon Valley’s growing pains amid the red-hot economy, powered by big tech companies like Google, which plans to build a giant campus in San Jose, and Apple, which leased space in Santa Clara last year. Job growth has far outpaced new housing, with the Bay Area adding 14,900 new homes in 2017 compared to 52,700 jobs, according to government data.

Back to Gallery $8 billion in offices, retail and housing to be built... 8 1 of 8 Photo: Related 2 of 8 Photo: Related 3 of 8 Photo: Related 4 of 8 Photo: Related 5 of 8 Photo: Related 6 of 8 Photo: Michael Short / The Chronicle 2014 7 of 8 Photo: Related / 8 of 8 Photo: Related















The amount of housing was limited at Related Santa Clara because the site was previously used as landfill and required additional environmental approvals, according to Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor. She said other parts of the city will add more housing, such as the adjacent Tasman East area, where 4,500 units are planned.

The project will replace an underused golf course at 5155 Stars and Stripes Drive, she said. Legal challenges aren’t fully resolved: David’s Restaurant, a tenant on the site, is fighting a city eviction and use of eminent domain.

Stephen Eimer, a Related executive vice president, said the developer was attracted to the site because of its proximity to transit from the Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority and Amtrak and Altamont Corridor Express trains. VTA light rail trains will connect to Caltrain stations in Mountain View and San Jose and a soon-to-open BART station in Milpitas. (The project website confusingly notes that BART is coming to the city of Santa Clara in 2025. While technically true, that station is 6 miles from the stadium area and will not offer convenient transit connections.)

The project will generate $17 million in annual taxes and fees and create 25,000 jobs. It includes 170 affordable housing units. An additional 700 hotel rooms are planned.

Eimer said the project’s mix of elements and pedestrian-friendly nature is unusual for Silicon Valley, and reflects the desire of both companies and residents to be near entertainment and food. A new 30-acre public park will also be built.

It will be one of the largest new shopping centers in the region, with 1 million square feet in retail space. Department stores were originally planned, but as consumer spending has shifted online, much of the focus will be on food.

“The vision for retail has changed since they first presented,” Gilmor said.

The project will include a food market similar to San Francisco’s Ferry Building, Eimer said. Restaurant tenants are expected to sign on by early next year.

“We’re partners with some of the world’s best restaurateurs,” he said.

The project is reminiscent of Related’s biggest project, the $25 billion Hudson Yards in Manhattan, which also includes a mix of housing, office and retail among multiple skyscrapers.

The difference will be height. Hudson Yards’ tallest building is nearly 1,300 feet, while Related Santa Clara will rise up to 219 feet above sea level, or about 12 stories.

The project is being designed by prominent architecture firms Foster + Partners, which designed Apple’s new circular campus, and Gensler, whose clients include Nvidia and Facebook.

Roland Li is a Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf