San Jose's cityscape is set to trade car horns for footsteps as the City Council approved a motion to transform San Pedro Square into a bustling pedestrian-only zone. The stretch of San Pedro Street from West Santa Clara Street to Saint John will no longer accommodate vehicles, a move praised by local business owners and residents alike who have enjoyed the benefits of open streets since the start of the pandemic in 2020. The historical decision marks San Jose’s first permanent pedestrian mall in over half a century.
Understandings forged during the pandemic have carried into this urban evolution. San Jose’s Al Fresco program had been a lifeline for oft-struggling businesses, a response to the global health crisis that unwittingly painted a picture of a more connected community. One such entrepreneur, David Mulvehill, co-owner of O’Flahertys Irish Pub, endorsed the initiative, stating, “Overall I think it’s been a positive experience, and definitely on Fridays and Saturday nights, I see more people walking on the streets than I did on the pavement pre-pandemic,” according to NBC Bay Area.
Mayor Matt Mahan expressed confidence in the permanent closure's potential to invigorate the local economy. Emphasizing the project's communal benefits, Mahan noted, "When we reclaim public space, and allow it to be used by pedestrians and customers, we have more opportunity for our small businesses to be successful, in our downtown and beyond," as told to Facebook. A sentiment echoed in the words of residents, who shared accounts of a more connected neighborhood.
As reported by KTVU, the pedestrian mall comes with a price tag of nearly $10 million, an investment aimed at enhancing outdoor spaces and providing safer walkways for residents and visitors. Local support for the project was strong, with residents like Nikeya, who lives on the transformed street, affirming, “I live on this street. So, I definitely condone keeping it closed down versus having it free and having people coming through.” The closure is not just a boon for local camaraderie, but a step, according to city officials, toward a swifter economic recovery from the pandemic impacts, with data indicating a faster bounce back for San Jose’s downtown compared to other California cities.
With plans to spruce up the pedestrian mall with additional lighting and other enhancements, the city is poised to embrace this new chapter of downtown San Jose's narrative.
