A small stretch of North Almaden Boulevard in San Jose’s Little Italy will now be known as Little Italy Way.
City officials decided the time was right to rename a section of the boulevard just south of West Julian Street. The name change is part of the city’s attempts to create a greater sense of place and a cohesive downtown with major sporting events looming as well as to commemorate the revitalization of the historic neighborhood. Some business owners, however, opposed the change, complaining it will create a logistical and financial hardship.
The latest move followed the renaming of a portion of St. John Street that leads down to the SAP Center as Sharks Way.
“Coordinating this with renaming Sharks Way creates a unified corridor that highlights two strong San Jose brands, our Italian cultural heritage and our sports pedigree,” said Chris Shay, senior vice president of government affairs at Sharks Sports & Entertainment, who submitted the proposal. “Together, they stitch districts and create a stronger sense of arrival into our downtown. With major events ahead with the Super Bowl, March Madness, and FIFA World Cup, this alignment will enhance the visitor experience and encourage exploration of our restaurants, parks, and entertainment venues.”
In addition to honoring the historic contributions of Italian-Americans, city officials aim to improve the perception of downtown ahead of 2026 when Silicon Valley becomes the first region to host a Super Bowl and a World Cup in the same calendar year.
Between the major sporting events, city officials estimated that they could bring in hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity, making it paramount that visitors have an enjoyable experience.
After completing the first phase of the stitching districts initiative, which added more public art and cleaned up the stretch of Santa Clara Street from City Hall to San Pedro Square, the city and business stakeholders have focused on improvements near the SAP Center, including new crosswalks, murals and $1.65 million in improved street lighting for the newly renamed streets.
“This step is part of a larger strategy, enhancing Guadalupe River Park, adding four new pickleball courts to the south of Little Italy and many more enhancements to Arena Green East and West, the Milligan parking lot coming online this October, establishing one of San Jose’s first entertainment zones and, of course, the renewal of the Sharks for another 26 years,” said District 6 Councilmember Michael Mulcahy, who represents the area. “Together, these efforts cement this area as the epicenter of cultural and sports entertainment, especially in our downtown.”
While the city is considering the long-term benefits, several local businesses on North Almaden Boulevard have criticized the city for its handling of the process and the unintended consequences it overlooked.
Jerry Greer, co-owner of 150 North Almaden LLC and the largest property owner on the affected streets, questioned the fairness of the proposal, the lack of benefits to everyone involved and what led to the neighborhood’s revival, which suffered from severe blight when he purchased his property nearly two decades ago.
“You’ll find that since the closure of Hotel Torino, prior to 1960, the neighborhood lacked any Italian businesses or buildings for decades,” Greer said. “Until Peasano’s Italian restaurant opened in 2011, there were zero Italian businesses or buildings in this neighborhood for the next 50-plus years, over two generations of abandonment. It was 150 North Almaden, an LLC that is solely responsible for this revitalization and transformation of the neighborhood.”
Planning Director Chris Burton said that city policy outlines a quicker, more streamlined process for renaming minor streets. He stated that an affected property owner does not have to be the person who requests the name change, and there is no requirement for a community meeting prior to an official public hearing.
Other businesses on the block raised concerns about the costs they will be forced to cover as a result of the name change.
“There are hidden costs that as an occupant of the building, we’re going to bear,” said Wayne Johnson, managing partner of engineering firm SEG, Inc.. “They’re substantial – in the $20,000 to $30,000 range – which for a company of our size, is a substantial amount of income.”
While he voted in favor of the proposal, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan acknowledged the concerns raised by the businesses, apologizing for any negative impacts of the name change.
“We can’t always mitigate or prevent all of them, but it’s worth sharing,” Mahan said. “It’s an honest perspective on the impacts that some will need to be mindful of whenever we pass a new rule, a new ordinance (or) change policy.”