Crews have broken ground on a massive apartment complex development in Santa Clara just as a similar project nearby sits in limbo due to legal battle with neighboring San Jose.
The Lawrence Station project along Central Expressway in Santa Clara is expected to look like a city within a city.
"We’re going to create a walkable community and one that will have access to transit as well," said Ruth Shikada, assistant city manager.
Shikada said about a thousand housing units are being built on the 27-acre property. Ten percent of those units will be reserved for low-income housing.
Some residents welcome any projects that have the potential to bring rent prices down.
"People need a place to live and a safe place," resident Beau Burkle said.
Others fear the more apartments and retail space will bring more traffic.
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"That would make my horrible commute even worse," Rita Elizarrey said.
While construction crews move forward on the Lawrence Station project, a massive office and retail project across the street from Levi’s Stadium is on hold pending litigation with the city of San Jose.
San Jose argues the 200-acre Cityplace project would put a stain on neighboring communities. On Wednesday, a San Jose spokesperson stopped short of publicly supporting the Lawrence Station apartment complex but did release a statement, saying in part, "We certainly support efforts by our neighboring cities to address the regional need to achieve a better long–term balance of jobs and housing."
Lawrence Station will finish in phases and is expected to be fully completed by 2020.
