San Jose Working to Raise Millions in Bonds to Revitalize Low-Income Neighborhood

San Jose is working to make sure a revitalized low-income neighborhood once known for crime and blight does not slip back to its rundown past.

The city council on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan to begin the process of raising millions of dollars in bond money to rehabilitate the aging 130 Poco Way apartment units.

The apartments are in the so-called Arbuckle neighborhood in East San Jose, an area known for its gang violence and drug trafficking.

The revitalized neighborhood now features a clean, peaceful and subsidized housing complex. Longtime resident Jose Rodrigues said it is not only peaceful, but affordable.

"It's very, very nice because, you know, right now the rent anywhere is too expensive," Rodrigues said. "And here it's cheaper because we are low income."

The continued rehabilitation of the area is something officials plan on to keep the past problems away.

"Over the decades, we know that housing stock can decline, and that leads to blight," Mayor Sam Liccardo said. "And that just invites a lot of crime and disorder in a community. So making an investment is very important."

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