SUMMER 2016
Silicon Valley
Impressions
Celebrating Diversity, and Promoting Community Awareness, Understanding and Inclusiveness
Interview with Rafael ViĂąoly
P o l iti c s
&
State Treasurer John Chiang Election Voice from Berlin Election Humor
and more
.. .
U r b a n r e v i v a l
Adaptive Architecture
The Packard Foundation
ISBN 978-0-692-40495-9
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CONTENTS
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urban revival interview with Rafael viÑoly Project renewal - the new stanford hospital Beads on a string Cupertino Vice Mayor Savita Vaidhyanathan Election Voice From berlin Eeli Ram what's your choice of "investment property" Marian Chaney the new silk road Michael Steger Deep Cliff Après Golf Revival from silicon valley with love the hills at vallco & the new stanford hospital slowing down for an exciting and adventurous life Marc Kulla political humor Wendell Stephens vallco revival walk - bike cupertino... today Larry Dean Chefs of compassion: west valley community services Dahlin group tackles job growth driven housing crisis John M.Thatch THE PACKARD FOUNDATION: GREEN, NET ZERO, LEED PLATINUM our state treasurer - John Chiang WHOLE FOODS MARKET, SANTA CLARA - GRAND OPENING
Our Magazine can be found at the following locations. For complete list of distributors please visit www.siliconvalleyimpressions.com
Cover page: Photo courtesy Rafael Viñoly John Chiang by James Gong
Silicon Valley Impressions,20111 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite #280, Cupertino, CA 95014. info@OpenSocietyMedia.com Don Sun | Publisher Beverly Lenihan | Editorial Advisor Ling Ling Kulla | Editor James Gong | Chief Photographer Ragini Sangameswara | Graphic Designer Elizabeth Softky | Copy Editor and Proof-reader
Advertise with us Please send all inquiries to: info@opensocietymedia.com or call (408)202-1080
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the writers and interviewees. They do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. Copyright notice: No part of this publication and/or website may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior written permission of the publisher. Permission is only deemed valid if approval is in writing. Silicon Valley Impressions owns all rights to contributions, text and images, unless previously agreed to in writing.
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URBA N “
Americans are suffering so much from being in unrewarding environments that it has made us very cynical. I think that the American suburbia has become a powerful generator of anxiety and depression.” “We’re fortunate that there is a movement gathering all over this country to remake our everyday world into places that are worth caring about…The New Urbanism recognizes that we have been living through an extraordinarily abnormal period of cultural amnesia that is now coming to an end. We are ready to reconnect the past and the future in order to live in a hopeful present.” James Howard Kunstler - The Ghastly Tragedy of the American Suburbs. In this issue of Silicon Valley Impressions Magazine special architecture edition, we present a few architects and buildings that are part of our new urban future.
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Art work by Rafael Viñoly S I L I C O N VA L L E Y I M P R E S S I O N S | A u g u s t
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Our first article presents architect Rafael Viñoly, his experience working in the Bay Area and his projects: the new Stanford Hospital (in construction and scheduled to open in 2018), and the proposed new development of The Hills at Vallco.
Silicon Valley Impressions: How did you start to work in the Bay Area?
SVI: You have worked in many parts of the world; what is unique about working in Silicon Valley?
Rafael Viñoly: I started working in the Bay Area with the new Stanford hospital. Our firm was approached by Stanford University. Usually, for these types of buildings, the focus is very technical, but we feel that Hospitals need a humanistic approach because that’s what hospitals are for, treating humans. We were successful in the competition because of that.
Rafael: I always wanted to get to know the Valley for myself because when I came as a tourist, I didn’t really know this place. Since I started working here, I am completely surprised by the level of sophistication of the place and the way people progress with a futuristic view. It’s not about just making progress, but also about being daring, about taking risks beyond what is normal. The kind of ideas that are being discussed and implemented here are well beyond the rest of the world.
In our design, we integrated many healing elements, such as a garden on the third floor. It “splits” the hospital in the middle, bringing in lots of nature.
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We are very honored to bring you a presentation by the Dahlin group, a Bay Area architecture firm on their experiences in building high density residential complexes with transportation solutions that is now an important aspect of all new urban villages. Another exciting part of our urban revival is the incorporation of innovative and creative designs with environmental friendly considerations. For this purpose, we present the David and Lucille Packard Foundation’s new corporate building in Los Altos. We hope this issue will bring you interesting perspectives of our future urban village which you look forward to have soon.
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From working at Manhattan we have learned a lot about the transformation of the city of New York into a tech hub. At a fundamental level, we are connected to the people who invent things every day. SVI: Why do you think the Valley possess such characteristics? Rafael: The tech-initiated wave of immigration caused many communities to come here with their identity and creating a new one at the same time. These hubs of people want to maintain their cultural roots as well as integrating in to an open society that is willing to accept all communities.
Stanford Hospital? Rafael: The process of healing requires a highly technical environment, but at the same time, Stanford Hospital is not just a hospital that treats the patients. The staff are teachers in the University’s medical school, teaching the art of healing and the science of medicine. The researchers, who are doctors too, and medical students all participate in the care and treatment of patients.
So, in such an environment, there are soft boundaries between patients, teachers, students and researchers. There is the juxtaposition of education, healing, learning and research. It’s a translational To design buildings for this community, one must contemplate com- field, not the typical 19th century organizational structure where mon factors: the beauty of nature, people who learn and teach are and the reference to geography. completely independent from those SVI: what is unique about the new who are practicing. In Stanford The new Stanford Hostpital under construction
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hospitals all the human elements is interdependent and interrelated, and even patients will have a participatory role, which was ignored in the past. To make it work, the building must be integrated at all levels with people who learn being close to people who teach; people who teach must be close to people who research; people who research must be close to people who are curing. Finally, the patient will have an important dimension that was postponed in the past. The new hospital has an abundance of openness, access to nature, and many floating layers hanging over the landscapes and over the views of the hills. There will be waiting areas for families, and cafeterias with views of gardens, as well as being surrounded by traditional healing plants.
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“Dear Parents, Do Not Fill Out FAFSA & CSS Until You Fully Understand The Very Complicated Rules of Financial Aid and IRS Tax... “ How to avoid the deadliest mistakes in applying for college financial aid? Parents, do you fit in any of the financial situation below: • High Income with High Assets • High Income with Normal Assets • Low Income with High Assets • Didn’t get or only got some financial aid after you submitted FAFSA/CSS Parents, when you fill out FAFSA “as is”, for sure, you cannot get college financial aid.
Our Suggestions: 1. If your family income is over $300,000 and you only have one child or two children four years apart---you should focus on saving taxes by setting up a Family Foundation. 2. For the rest of the families, please don’t fill out FAFSA with an “as is” financial situation. You should listen to a financial aid professional’s audio to understand the basic rules of Financial Aid, then position your family’s net income MAGI & net assets accordingly before filling out FAFSA/CSS. http://www.4089962002.com/Audio_Clips.php Parents, without preparation, for sure you cannot get college financial aid. Michael Chen College Financial aid & Tax Planning Specialist, Finacial Planner
When we make college more affordable, we make the American dream more achievable. (Bill Clinton) izquotes.com
Sucessful Cases: Case 1: Family Income over $300,000 An engineer’s family, after exercised its stock options (RSU), had income over $400,000. After setting up a Family Foundation, they saved $50,000 in taxes and can use this $50,000 for their retirement and for college. Case 2: High Income with Normal Assets An IT engineer’s family had a W-2 income around $200,000. As most parents, they never thought they would qualify for financial aid, through our FinAid tax planning, they have reduced $100,000 net AGI income. Each year they receive $40,000 financial aid and also $34,000 tax refund. Case 3: Low Income with High Assets A business owner with 5 rental properties had filled out FAFSA on their own and their application for financial aid was rejected. After getting planning, help and guidance from us, their child received $30,000 financial aid from UC’s and saved $120,000 for four years. Consult with us to avoid making mistakes. We are the #1 Financial Aid and Tax Planning specialist! Our email: michaelchencfp@gmail.com Phone: 408.246.6900
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Project Renewal The new Stanford Hospital Interview with Courtney Lodato, Senior Manager of Public Relations, Jennifer Winder, Manager of Public Relations Grace Hsu, Director of Design
Images courtesy of Stanford Hospital Public Relations
Q : The new Stanford Hospital has the design of the “human factor”. Could you explain what that means?
with a sense of peace and tranquility. Having nature in the middle of the building gives a get away from the clinical environment.
A: The Stanford Health Care Board and hospital leadership have created a platform that supports the architecture of the building and allows the building to remain open and accessible to people. When you arrive at the new hospital, you won’t see a traditional hospital design. We hired consultants who design hotels, asking them to give us ideas for the fabrics, curtains and couches, so the hospital looks more inviting.
We minimize the clinical aspect of the hospital in simple ways too. The design is kept very clean and streamlined, and we also try to hide away equipment so they are not placed along the public areas.
We’ve introduced a garden floor on Level 3 of the new building. When families visit their loved ones at Stanford Health Care, being in a garden setting can provide people
Our current hospital doesn’t have a lot of space for family and visitors, but the new hospital will have spaces for visitors inside and outside. The new design has created open spaces and garden areas for our staff and faculty as well. Everyone that supports patient care will be able to enjoy some time away from work during breaks. No matter where you are in the
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new hospital, you are visually oriented to what is going on outside. Many of our patients and doctors spend hours indoors, so having that access to the outside environment – such as trees and flowers, will provide balance to support wellness. Q: Why is there a need for a new hospital building right now? A: There are two reasons. First, it’s a matter of seismic safety. There has been new legislation for earthquake safety since the old hospital was built based on the old requirements, our existing facilities don’t meet the mandates anymore. The new hospital is base isolated on each of the 206 columns that support the structure of the hospital which allows the building to move up to six feet during an earthquake.
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Secondly, we wanted to expand the number of private rooms. The new hospital has 368 beds that are all private rooms. The new national model for hospitals is not to have a horizontal hospital design, in which, after patients have procedures, they are wheeled through the hospital to their rooms. In this type of horizontal building layout, patients are then seen by visitors, other patients and people in the hospital, which can cause distress and embarrassment. The vertical design of the new hospital allows the operating rooms and treatment facilities to be located on the lower levels. After treatment procedures, patients will go from
the bottom floor to their rooms via elevators. This way, there is more privacy. Q: How did you select Rafael Viùoly for the job? A: Rafael is very passionate about both people and buildings. He likes to create environments that improve people’s lives. He listens to us, he understands us, and he is not afraid to suggest ideas. All great architects will not only think of how to design a building, but also take into consideration its context and try to envision what else can be done. He has been a wonderful collaborator. He pro-
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pelled us, not only to put up a building, but to think through the entire process and consider how our building relates to our surrounding architecture. Rafael has incorporated many design elements from the original Stanford University campus architecture. However, he does it on his own terms, taking motifs from the campus, filtering them through his bold, iconic approach, tailored to context. Earthquake safety was always a top priority, as well as showcasing innovative technology, which will be installed on Levels 1 and 2 of the new hospital.
3rd Floor Garden Design
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Beads on a String
So many beads in this necklace on my neck Their shape size shine shade - not unique The manner in which I string them possibly be? What if each bead is a person I meet Every string the experience I have This necklace would personify my life Now, My life and yours are forever joined Through these beads in an infinite bond Cupertino Vice Mayor
Savita Vaidhyanathan
Brand New European-style manor designed by locally renowned Kohler Associates Architects/a showcase combination of Contemporary elegance and private Silicon Valley living! Total square footage per architectural plans is 13,500 Sq Ft - Main House 11594, Guest House 808, Attached 1 car garage 264, Detached 2 car garage 484, Covered Porches 350. The perfect combination of comfort and luxury! Located in the beautiful and desirable central section of Atherton. Upon driving down the long private driveway, this beautiful three level estate begins with a foyer that features an urban chic staircase, fully automated for sound, lighting, security and more, eight Suites, nine full bathrooms, three powder rooms, six fireplaces, a theatre, gym, temperature-controlled wine cellar, steam room, library, elevator, guest house, pool, fire-pit, outdoor barbecue, 3 car garage.
DRE# 01276431 (408)209-5792 www. catherineqian.com CQian@interorealestate.com
Catherine Qian Intero Chairman Circle (Top 1%) Intero Prestigio Specialist ASP
Catherine specializes in Cupertino, Los Altos, Sunnyvale, Saratoga, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Atherton
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By Eeli Ram eeliramwords@gmail.com
Chicken Alley Berlin, Germany In late May, 2016 with news of Donald Trump becoming the presumptive U.S. Republican Party nominee, this piece appeared prominently positioned on the alley wall.
Expat Impressions of 2016 Presidential Election W hile traveling in Germany this
spring, I had a chance to talk with US expats and obtained a better sense as to their impressions of the 2016 Presidential election cycle. There is universal alertness and also a sense of loyalty put forth by the expats when discussing the upcoming election. Our conversations would make me see things that I had forgotten or perhaps blotted out. While most registered voters that I spoke with planned to participate in this election cycle, it wasn’t going to be an easy decision. As the primaries narrowed down the field of candidates, many interviewees used the word “overwhelmed” with the process. Without a viable candidate, these “overwhelmed” voters stated that they had to take periodic breaks from following the campaign news gathered from local news networks and online news. In some cases, transferring allegiance to the
front-runner candidate did not seem natural or the obvious next step. For this group, they might consider a third party candidate. Americans living abroad for the longest period of time felt that the candidates did not touch on issues unique to the expat life: issues such as taxation and corporate compliance. Those living for the longest time away from the US actually spent the least amount of time following the campaign. Those living abroad for the shortest period of time were much more inclined to stay politically connected to their fact checking friends living in the States. My anecdotal evidence revealed the following top cited impressions of the 2016 presidential candidates. 1. candidates do not follow the rules that apply to other citizens; 2. the word liar to describe one or more candidates; and 3. thought
that candidates are willing to bait their constituents with the concept of viable shortcuts to achieving long-term change. Curiously, the top three impressions have a negative tone. Other impressions describing candidates consistently used the words “will provide a real voice in government” and “lesser of two evils”. While not living on US soil, these opinionated voters are very prepared to cast their ballot in the upcoming election. Overseas voting was critical to putting George W. Bush into the White House in 2000, and if things are tight, could be just as important in the 2016 election too. Whether you are leaning towards “It’s in Our Hands”, “The People’s President”, “Stronger Together” or “Make America Great Again”, the 2016 US Presidential campaign is guaranteed to draw the spotlight both here and also abroad.
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What's Your Choice of "Investment Property"? Part I
Marian Chaney DRE # 01937247
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(408)805-6680 (650)383-7388 agentmchaney@gmail.com www.MarianChaney.com
Your Realtor for Life!
f you have some extra money in the bank, you’re probably thinking to invest it somewhere that yields more return than bank interest. Living in the hottest real estate market in the country, many residents in Silicon Valley consider real estate as a great choice, if they can afford it. In fact, investors from all over the world fight to get a share of the booming market. Most people first think of “investment property” as a rental condo or single family home. Some more savvy investors love multi-family units, including apartments, because these properties generally yield higher return but require more management efforts. Less known to an average investor are other types of commercial properties, like retail building, office building, warehouses, industrial buildings, etc. Truthfully, any type of property, whether it’s commercial or residential, can be a good investment opportunity. For your money, commercial properties typically offer more financial reward than residential properties, but there can also be higher risks. Understanding the full pros and cons of investing in commercial properties is important so that you make the investment decision that’s right for you. Here are some of the pros of buying commercial real estate over residential property. Higher potential income. The best reason to invest in commercial over residential rentals is the earning potential. Commercial properties generally have an annual return off the purchase price between 5% and 10%. In Silicon Valley, this rate is lower than most of the country and often just around 5%, but that is because of the high demand and higher potential for property appreciation. It is still a much higher range than typically exists for single family home properties (1% to 4% at best). Professional relationships between landlord and tenant. Landlords of commercial buildings deal with leases with small businesses or corporations, instead of individuals or families. Business owners want to protect their livelihood and are more incentivized to take good care of the buildings. Therefore, the landlord and tenant have more of a business-to-business customer relationship, which helps keep interactions professional and courteous. Retail tenants, for instance, particularly have a vested interest in maintaining their store and storefront, because if they don’t, it will affect their business. As a result, commercial tenants and property owner interests are aligned, which helps the owner maintain and improve the quality of the property, and ultimately, the value of their investment.
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Part II: Fall 2016
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Homeowners Beware! The California Homeowner Bill of Rights took effect on January 1, 2013 to guarantee basic fairness and transparency for homeowners in the foreclosure process. It is Attorney General Kamala Harris’ response to the state’s foreclosure and mortgage crisis. The Mortgage Fraud Strike Force was created in May 2011 to investigate and prosecute misconduct at all stages of the mortgage process. My name is Shirley Lee, I have been living in Silicon Valley for over 35 years. I am a victim of real estate foreclosure scam. I am sharing my story to make other homeowners aware of foreclosure scams and to help other victims fighting for their rights. It was October 26, 2001, few weeks after 911, 2 days after my birthday, I was served a Three Day Notice to Quit Premises by personal service to my home, I was shocked to know that my home had been sold without my knowledge. The attorney Kirkman Hoffman filed the unlawful detainer case in court against my family, and Santa Clara Court Judge Thomas Cain issued the eviction order. By this order, my mother, my daughter and I had to move out in 30 days from the house we have been living in for sixteen years. On January 7, 2002, we moved to a small apartment. My 9-year-old daughter had to change school and leave her classmates and friends. We were very heartbroken. To get my house back, I spent the next seven years in court and fought eight related cases. I hired eight lawyers and three private investigators to find facts and evidences. In order to make time and energy to go to court, I closed my import business. Santa Clara Court Judge Kevin McKenney stated in the court hearing: “I’ll confess that this situation is not simple. This is about the most convoluted financial arrangement between three or four – maybe four people, that I’ve seen”. The court found that I had over-paid $ 11,355.84 on my second loan. The parties established fake companies, falsified purchaser’s name on the check, committed perjury to the court. They changed the case numbers, made smearing attacks on the plaintiff and tried everything they can to block the legal process. My property has changed hands many times after I was evicted: * Sold for $84,000 on 3/27/2001 * Sold for $225,500 on 10/26/2001 *Sold for $692,000 on 7/19/2002 * Sold for $950,000 on 8/17/2012 Case numbers, lawyers and private investigators involved in my case: 1. DC 01413928 Attorney Kikirman Hoffman for Ellies Telecom Inc. V. Shirley Lee 2. 1-02-CV811272 Shirley Lee V. Law offices of David A. Boone and Attorney Anthony P. Passaretti for Legal Malpractice by Attorney John A. Shepardson 3. 1-02-CV806189 Shirley Lee’s Complaint for wrongful foreclosure by Attorney Michael E. Stone 4. 1-04-CV025294 Shirley Lee’s Complaint for fraud foreclosure by Attorney R. Patrick Smith, Paul L. Gumina and John A. Shepardson 5. 1-07-CV087763 Shirley Lee’s Complaint for fraud foreclosure and Conspiracy by Attorney Carver Clark Farrow , James Cai , Ali Kamarei and Robert G. Cummings 6. 1-08-CV114308 Attorney Michael E. Stone vs. Shirley Lee and Attorney John A. Shepardson for attorney fee by Attorney John A Shepardson Private Investigators 1. Blanco & Associates Inc 2. Harder & Associates 3. Simon & Association
Contact: Shirley.business@hotmail.com Wechat : shirley8888_
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Fro m Be ij in g t o San Francisco to the Moo n The N e w Sil k Road By: Michael G. Steger
D
uring the 10,000 year long record of human culture, the most remarkable period of development has now reached a new and momentous stage. Over the last 25 years, over 600 million people have been raised out of severe poverty, and have attained stable diets, electricity, and access to advanced education for the first time. However, and perhaps even more important, there are steps now being taken to replicate this grand scale of human development, and within the coming generation. This rate of development, and within such a large population, has never before occurred, and not only solves many practical problems for some of the world’s most impoverished persons, but also begins a new epoch for mankind, much like was seen during the Italian Renaissance of Florence, Italy in the 15th century. You haven’t heard about this? No one told you? Well the people of China, and now increasingly Russia, India, as well as the people of south, southwest and southeast Asia certainly know. This incredible rate of development is already affecting every nation, and is now the largest growing
influence on the world economic system.
the Indian Ocean east to Africa and beyond.
Informally, this new system is called the New Silk Road, or the World Landbridge, and it encompasses all of the territory of the ancient silk road, from eastern China into Europe through the northwest route via central asia, or west through Pakistan and into east Africa, or the southwest route through Myanmar into India and southeast Asia. It also encompasses the ancient maritime routes and the islands of the south Pacific, from the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan to the South China Sea into
This project, initiated by China after the end of the Cold War, now involves Russia, India, and the leading nations of Eurasia. From the standpoint of statistics, this is nearly 40% of the world land area, and already over 40% of the world economy. But most importantly, it is over 60% of the world’s population, and with economic growth rates ten times that of Europe and the U.S.
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The U.S. has a key role to play, as does the Bay Area along the Pacific
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Coast, and is easily integrated, with a change in foreign policy, into this program of global development. We cannot afford to be left out.
and land reclamation is an essential complement to the development of multi-national connectivity through rail and sea.
greater scope and meaning of the human species, and we recognize our shared potential in this universe-at-large.
The Scope and Projects
China is now embarking on the third stage of their South-North water diversion project, which begins at the Tibetan Plateau. India has just announced a river diversion project to bring critical water supplies to the south and east of the peninsula, diverting a portion of the abundant waters from the Ganges and Brahmaputra southward. Similar projects exist for Saharan Africa, central Asia, and even California and the western states, a project known as NAWAPA.
Essential to this new system of development is mankind’s further exploration of space. As the space scientist Krafft Ehricke often referred, we no longer just look at the stars, we have now begun our travel among them. China, along with India and Russia, have initiated aggressive space exploration programs with a new space station planned for 2020, landers on the far-side of the moon as well as Mars, manned-exploration of the moon, a permanent lunar station, and even industrial mining of lunar regolith for fusion and other advanced applications.
In addition to the many rail routes that have already been implemented, such as the Chongqing, China to Duisburg, Germany route, the New Silk Road or World Landbridge incorporates far more than just rail lines. Initially conceived by Lyndon and Helga LaRouche, along with staff members of Executive Intelligence Review and The Schiller Institute, the transit corridors stemming from China in six different geographical directions, (including one towards the northeast through the Bering Strait and into Canada and the U.S., going from Beijing to San Francisco in 46 hours!) are more than just rail lines or new ports, they establish the critical foundations for development corridors. Where appropriate, depending on the needs and potential of the area, the rail line or port will coincide with canal construction, (such as in Iran from the Sea of Oman at the newly initiated port at Chabahar to the Caspian Sea, or from the Danube at Belgrade, Serbia to the Aegean Sea at Thessaloniki, Greece), as well nuclear power stations for industry and city development, and industrial corridors for manufacturing, assembly, and logistics (as is now planned for the expanded Suez Canal in Egypt, or proposed for the Kra Canal in Thailand). There is also the critical aspect of water diversion and land reclamation. To stop the expanding deserts, as we see happening in California, a broadscale geological approach to water distribution, forestation,
There are also new technologies which will, in the future, dramatically increase our resource base, such as fusion energy, and increase the amount of rainfall on land, such as ionization, and with shared research and development costs to achieve technical proficiency of these and other technologies, the New Silk Road is a pathway to an entirely new future. A System of Win-Win and a Silk Road to the Stars All of these projects are multinational in nature, and require a new quality of international collaboration towards the advancement of human culture. The current President of China has referred to this as a system of win-win, (in contrast with the geopolitical system of win-lose, or the system of lose-lose as in a nuclear conflict) and has invited all nations, including the U.S., to join the endeavor for the mutual and shared benefits of all nations. As astronauts returning to Earth often refer, once we see ourselves from above, we realize the
Silicon Valley is what it is today because of the space program President Kennedy initiated. It is now time to apply the scientific and technological skills of Silicon Valley towards the greater development of mankind, and our future explorations to the stars. Contact the author at: michael.g.steger@gmail.com. Michael Steger is currently the west coast editor for EIR News Service and regional director for The Schiller Institute, as well as a member of the National Policy Committee of the LaRouche Political Action Committee. He was a candidate for U.S. Congress in San Francisco in 2014 running on a JFK platform for space exploration, fusion energy research and large scale water diversion projects such as NAWAPA. He received a B.A. from UC Santa Barbara in Economics and Philosophy of Science in 1999, with an emphasis on largescale infrastructure projects.
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Après Golf Revival at DC Tap House Deep Cliff Golf Course is an 18 hole, par 60, executive course in the Cupertino foothills. Blending the beauty of the natural environment, Deep Cliff Golf course has intriguing and challenging layouts. It is a course that is loved by the Silicon Valley locals of all ages. Recently, Deep Cliff Golf Course has gone through a $1.5 million renovation with a brand new café and interior renovation for the clubhouse, the pro-shop and the restrooms designed by architect Janice Yeh from Adaptive Architecture. We had a chance to visit this fun filled place and talk to Janice about this newly installed oasis. "The goal of the renovation is to have open and enjoyable areas for the members as well as the public to relax and enjoy the view of the golf course. For the outdoor sitting area, we have cleaned up the original facility and built gardening walls filled with bougainvillea flowers."
"The outdoor sitting area had no shades and the hot afternoon sun would shine on the ground and heat up the windows of the café. We put two large shade structures in the area and now people can enjoy sitting outdoors without suffering the heat." With a new liquor license, DC Tap House can serve wine and cocktails. This will give more reasons for its members to stay and linger after the games.
Adaptive Architecture 20111 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 270, Cupertino, CA 95014
Major works:
1. Little Tree Montessori International School Campbell, Sunnyvale, Fremont 2. Little Tree Bilingual Montessori Preschool, Cupertino 3. Growing Tree Learning Center, Saratoga 4. Boundary Oak Golf Course, Walnut Creek 5. Apartment Building in Walnut Creek 6. Branham Shopping Center, San Jose 7. Residential/Commercial Projects in South Bay Area S I L I C O N VA L L E Y I M P R E S S I O N S | A u g u s t 2 0 1 6
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From Silicon Valley with The Hunan Association
of
San Francisco Bay Area Reaches Out
to
Poor Regions
in
China
T he Hunan Association of the
San Francisco Bay Area (nonprofit 503c) was established on September 18, 2010. The Association has 500 member families. Aside from having social gatherings and events, they share a vision to help children living in the poorest regions of Hunan by providing material and educational support. The organization has a nonprofit program which provides financial assistance to children living in poverty but who have academic potential. Many of these children’s parents leave their children behind to work in big cities, so they have no parental support at home. Due to the lack of love and guidance in their everyday life, they often find it difficult to thrive. In China, it is ten times more difficult for young children in the countryside to go to university than children in urban areas. The conditions under which they learn are difficult, and they need higher scores than the city kids to be admitted.
Back row middle: Mr. Bill Huang with the first group of children the Hunan Association of San Francisco supported. All the six kids were admitted to various universities.
must come from poverty level families; second, they must do well in school, and third, they must have good character, which we assess during our interviews with them. Ms. Cady Yu: We have a preset amount of support at different levels: for middle school students, we offer support for $600-700 a year; for high school students, we provide $1,000 a year, and for college students about $1,000 a year. This is usually half of their living requirements.
We currently have 30 students in our program. One is a girl whose father passed away when she was young. Her mother left her to work in the city making less than $200 a month. Our student gave up going to college. When we first met her, she was an average student. Once we started our support, she started to do well in school and she became number one out of the10,000 plus graduates of her county. It was a life changing experience for her. hunansf.org
The program started in 2005 and is led by Mr. Bill Huang, a research scientist at Western Digital who grew up in rural poverty in China, and Cady Yu, an investment professional. Mr. Huang began by giving lectures to students in his home region in Hunan. When Ms. Cady Yu joined the organization, the program grew and expanded in scope. Using her personal savings and time, Cady provides funding and also works as a volunteer. Mr. Huang: We receive a list of students from the schools. Our selection criteria are first, the students
Ms. Cady Yu and the Long Xi school children in Hunan. Second from right, a 5th grader shares a bunk bed with the boy on the right, a first grader, and takes care of his daily needs.
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The Hills at Vallco will have: 625,000 square feet of commercial and civic areas, including retail and entertainment uses, such as restaurants, a movie theater, an ice skating rink, bowling alley, health club, and civic uses including a 10,000 sq. ft. High School Innovation Center and a 5,000 sq. ft. community center; •
800 residential units, including 680 market rate units, 80 below market rate units and 40 senior age-restricted units
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2,000,000 square feet for offices
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30-acre integrated green roof with: Public open space and recreational uses, such as trails, amphitheater, community center, and private open
space and recreational uses, such as fitness center/clubhouse, pool etc. •
Two town squares - approximately 2.98 acres total
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Amenity space for residential and office uses including fitness center, clubhouses, cafeteria, conference center, testing and workshop areas;
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Transit center;
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Parking for 9,175 vehicles.
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1,282 new trees
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The new Stanford Hospital will have: •
368 private rooms, for a total of 600 patient beds on-site
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Expanded Emergency Department with twice the floor space and the ability to function smoothly in the event of a large-scale disaster
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Private rooms to increase privacy, reduce stress and accommodate more patients and visitors
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State-of-the-art operating rooms that can be adapted to accommodate new technologies and innovations
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17 operating rooms, 11 interventional/radiology image-guided rooms and additional imaging technologies
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Drought-tolerant gardens and landscaping
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Natural lighting and universal floor plans
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Welcoming amenities for patients, families and visitors
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Parking structure for 900 vehicles
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Slowing Down for an Exciting and Adventurous Life by Marc Kulla Photo Credit: John Kuony
T he next time you drive home down your quiet neighborhood street, assuming there are no cars behind you, try slowing down to six miles per hour for a few houses. You will feel that you are crawling along, not making much progress at all, and you will really want to tap that accelerator. This is the speed that a typical sailboat travels on the ocean, getting from one island to another. Sailing is the ultimate “slowing down� in life and is highly recommended as a way to relax and rejuvenate.
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There are many types of sailors: rich and poor sailors, tall and short sailors, male and female sailors, aggressive and laid back sailors. Most of them can be categorized as either a cruising sailor or a performance sailor. The cruising sailor enjoys relaxing on a boat as it makes its way from one place to another, while the performance sailor enjoys the thrill of speed. In the San Francisco Bay, both types exist; however, this article will explore the cruising sailor’s lifestyle, as it is the peacefulness of the water and the slow nature of a sailboat that can really bring perspective to your life. Starting around 4,000 BCE, Egyptians sailed down the Nile River and across the Mediterranean Sea without anything close to the advanced technology that is readily available to sailors today. The physics of sailing is simple to understand and, after a bit of practice, one can get the basics down. Is that all it takes to "Sail the Ocean Blue"? Clearly not, but there is much debate on what it really does take to sail the world with today’s nautical technology. Better weather forecasting and GPS (Global Positioning System) are probably the two biggest advances that make sailing so much easier than it was decades ago. Today we can wait for a good weather window and be reasonably certain that the forecast is accurate.
siasts says that paper charts are becoming a thing of the past for casual sailors just as maps in cars become nonexistent. How do you become a sailor? There are many ways to start, but for our purpose, the goal is to be able to charter sailboats in beautiful areas of the world. Chartering a sailboat is similar to renting a car, and there are many charter companies that offer their boats to people with basic sailing skills.
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tency of the trade winds, as well as “line-of-sight” navigation between islands, you are able to take one of many “fast track” classes offered by numerous vendors. These classes typically have you spend two days on a smaller boat (under 30 feet) to teach the basics of sailing, and then another five to seven days on a 40-to-50 foot catamaran or monohull, depending on your preference.
At the end of this, you will be awarded three internationally The main difference between recognized certifications, including renting a car and chartering a boat the bareboat cruising certification. is that you will be chartering a Tests will be given on the boat. $400,000 sailboat, not a $25,000 However, this does not make you car, so the agency wants to make an experienced sailor ready to cross sure you know how to sail. The the oceans. You will merely be quickest and the most fun way to qualified to charter sailboats, get obtain a bareboat charter certificamore time on the water, and grow tion (chartering the boat with no your experience. It also allows you captain, with the renter taking the to return to the British Virgin Isrole of captain) is to take an intenlands or other locations around the sive class while on vacation, hope- world with your family to experifully in an exotic location. This mix ence learning more in a beautiful of vacation with a learning experienvironment, and bringing you ence can set you up for so many closer to your dream of traversmore such excursions in the future. ing oceans, heading out onto San Francisco Bay on a lovely day, and The Disneyland of sailboat charters learning how to slow down from a is the British Virgin Islands. Due to hectic life. the layout of the islands, the consis-
GPS takes almost all of the concerns of navigation out of the picture. We know, within approximately ten feet, where we are at any given time. Backup GPS systems are so inexpensive that it is not uncommon for a cruising sailboat to have multiple on hand. Should a boat also hold paper charts in case of failure? The most prudent say yes; however, the majority of saling enthuS I L I C O N VA L L E Y I M P R E S S I O N S | A u g u s t
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Kiss the ground you walk on Eco-friendly and comfortable f loor technology that you will love and cherish happily ever af ter
T
he floor covering industry has developed new technologies and styling to create environmental friendly products. Two improved products are Resilient Plank and Carpet Tile. They are versatile and may be combined to create unique designs. Resilient Plank advantages• Waterproof • Termite proof • Odorless • Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) tested • Scratch resistance • Bacteria control • Appearance of wood or stone • Durable coating and fiberglass reinforced • Fast and easy installation with strong, robust locking. Carpet Tile advantages• High performance durable backing and fibers • Versatile designs from one consistent pattern to combination for unique textures. • Individual tiles may be replaced when needed.
Suggested uses for resilient plank or carpet tile are for high traffic areas including airports, healthcare facilities, offices, government facilities, schools, retail stores, etc. For residential areas, resilient plank has a waterproof surface making it a valuable addition to a kitchen or bathroom. More and more customers are appreciating the combined benefits of performance, looks and value compared to other flooring options. Both resilient plank and carpet tile are made with environmentally sustainable materials and can be recycled. High end resilient floors can have a look of stone or wood; it’s 100% water and terminte resistent. Carpet tiles are easy to install and very versatile in use. Practice a little imagination and thinking out of the box so you can have a floor covering that is uniquely yours.
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Home Flooring Plus specializes in floor preparation, installation, and after sales service of these two new floor coverings. We carry many good quality brands, including Patcraft owned by Warren. E. Buffett. Patcraft is one of the top brands for carpet tile and resilient products. We have many years of experience in floor covering product selection and installation. We always update our knowledge of flooring design, technologies, and trends. Every floor we offer has more than surpassed our own high standards of performance and comfort. We not only care about choosing the best quality products, within the clients’ budget but also work with interior designers and provide on-site supervision to make sure that the floor preparation ( a key to durability) and installation is perfectly done. “Only the best is good enough for you”. We stand behind our products and we guarantee that you will be satisfied.
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Polictical Humor by Wendell Stephens
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here is a lot of humor in our Presidential races. And, of course, it can be a little biting. This will be a bumper year for biting wit but in this article I will take a brief look at older races.
One of the most mentioned exchanges of insults came in 1884 when Grover Cleveland, a bachelor at the time, was running against James Blaine. Cleveland, it was revealed, had fathered an illegitimate child ten years earlier. The Blaine supporters soon developed a chant that went “Ma, Ma, where’s my pa?” But the Cleveland supporters developed their own retort to that which went “Gone to the White House, Ha, ha, ha. An opponent called Abraham Lincoln, noted for his great story-telling ability, two-faced. He replied, “If I were two-faced, why would I be wearing this one?” In 1964, Barry Goldwater’s staff came up with the slogan “In your Heart, you know he’s Right.” This great slogan was soon countered by the line “In your Guts, you know he’s Nuts”. In 1936, Gov. Alf Landon was running against Franklin Delano Roosevelt who was first elected to office in 1932. FDR won by a landslide. Here are some of Alf’s
slogans. They seem pretty inane now. “Defeat the New Deal and its Reckless Spending”, “Let’s get another Deck (of cards)” (to defeat the New deal), “Let’s make it a Landon-slide”, and “Life, Liberty, and Landon”. FDR countered with a decisive statement that recalled the depression years, “Remember Hoover!” (Herbert Hoover, our 31st President)
were as bad as we’d been saying they were’
A variation of FDR’s slogan was used by Ronald Reagan in 1980 which read “Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Years Ago?” along with “Let’s Make America Great Again.” His latter slogan looks familiar today.
In Washington, where deals are often made in secret, Abe Lincoln said. “ I can keep a secret; its the people I tell who can’t.”
Even Herbert Hoover quipped, ‘Blessed are the young, for they shall inherit the national debt’. Bill Clinton: “Being President is like running a cemetery. You’ve got a lot of people under you and nobody’s listening.”
The lampooning for this election started months ago. It is already a little too bitter for my taste. Maybe Ronald Regan also had these great in 20 years it will seem funny. lines: “A recession is when a neigh- Remember the bumper sticker that bor loses his job, a depression is stated, “The Problem with Political when you lose yours. And recovery Jokes is They get Elected.” starts when Jimmy Carter loses his.” And, to Walter Mondale in a 1984 Presidential debate he used FEAR LEADS TO ANGER. this line to counter concern over ANGER LEADS TO HATE. his age: “I want you to know also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” Even Mondale laughed at that line. Presidents, after being in office, have some pretty good things to HATE LEADS TO say too. SUPPORTING DONALD TRUMP John Fitzgerald Kennedy: ‘When we got into office the thing that surprised me the most was that things
FOR PRESIDENT!
Artist: Daisy Qian. Concept: Occupy Democrats
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continued from page 8
SVI: What is your goal for Vallco? Rafael: Here we are in Cupertino, where there exists an abundance of rolling hills. But from the current Vallco Mall, one cannot see them. We have no idea of the geography around us. I want to cure that. Our goal is to restore the original quality of the place. Every place has it’s own ecosystem. We are trying to create a physical site that has the
capacity to connect with the horizon and make the town an insertion into the local hills and the natural landscape. We want people to enjoy being there to shop, to go to the movies, and to meet. We created a design that can contribute massively to the public good. SVI: How does your design achieve that goal?
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Rafael: Our design connects the site with the geography of the surrounding hills of Cupertino. By installing what would be the world’s largest roof top garden, we will see the surrounding hills, and in turn, the view of these hills become accessible and connected to the orchards and vineyards. Having the hills, parks, and gardens in the middle of the city transforms a suburban neighborhood into a
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“Public spaces should be inspired centers of civic life and the physical manifestation of the common good”, and an “outdoor public room” should be where “people just go because it’s pleasurable to be there.”— James Howard Kunstler - The Ghastly Tragedy of the American Suburbs
Image courtesy of Sand Hill Property Company
town center. People can come here for major celebrations, events, and festivities in their own community. The design not only is three dimensions in space, but it also achieves a multi-dimensional purpose in bringing the natural environment, living spaces, shops, restaurants, and a diversity of services together in one place. SVI: Why do you think this is good for Cupertino? Rafael: The Hills at Vallco will provide a combination of community facilities, parks, gardens, and agricultural elements. Cupertino has a diverse population, having a centrally located place where people can meet and gather gives opportunities for many cultures to join together and share in the experience. There are many internationally recognized architectural landmarks in Silicon Valley. However, most of them are like the Apple Campus II, which is an incredible piece of architecture, but closed off to the
public and only accessible to the people who work there. The Hills at Vallco provides an opportunity for residents of all ages to walk and explore and play. Its openness can be used for various outdoor activities, and it brings nature. It also offers different views from various parts of the complex. In addition, it’s vineyards and orchards will help this location connect with its agricultural past. SVI: You have already received accolades from around the world on the Vallco project. Do you think this will become a landmark project? Rafael: No question, it will be a landmark project, not just for Cupertino, but for the entire Bay Area. The project is three-dimensionally integrated, with easy access to many services, and with the shops being accessible from the pedestrian streets. The parks and gardens will also be accessible from the streets, shopping areas, offices and living quarters. It will surely become a prime destination
for people in Cupertino and their friends and families. This type of concept usually comes from corporate proposals or utopian fantasies, but it will be realized here, leaving a legacy to be enjoyed by the public for many generations.
“This project demonstrates a true paradigm change in the level of responsibility that every large private development has to have towards the public realm. The contributions this project makes to the public are not about the project costs, or the price of the entitlements it seeks, but an investment in ensuring its capacity to have a sustainable future. The creation of a real “town center” for Cupertino is not a marketing strategy but a goal that can only be met by an integrated view of the responsibility it entails to consider the Public our client.” - Rafael Viñoly on the Hills at Vallco.
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Walk-Bike Cupertino… Today! By Larry Dean
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elcome to Walk-Bike Cupertino. We are a 500+ volunteerbased organization that identifies and supports safe and enjoyable bicycling and walking routes throughout Cupertino. Its members work with Cupertino city leaders, school leaders, business and civic groups to create safer and more enjoyable ways for citizens to move within and throughout its neighborhoods. Our Mission: • Make Cupertino a model for Safe, Easy and Enjoyable Walking and Biking • Create direct Bike-Pedestrian pathways • Educate drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists on best practices for sharing the road • Encourage riding and walking: incorporate mileage signage, historical markers and point-ofinterest into pathways • Support appropriate funding for strategic Walk-Bike Improvements. Walk-Bike Cupertino was started
in May 2014 by a group of active citizens wanting to have safe and easy bike/pedestrian features in Cupertino. They communicated to Cupertino elected leaders and city staff and the process began. From virtually no funding for bike ped improvements from 2010 through 2014. The council started with a $250K commitment in 2015, and by the end, budget year 2016 will have invested over $1.5 million in safety improvements throughout Cupertino, from the green and buffered bike lanes to modifying auto barriers to allow passage for cyclists and pedestrians. The City Leaders have listened!
This past year at the urging of the community and Walk-Bike Cupertino, the city has started a Safe Routes to School program and hired a full time coordinator. A major long term commitment modeled after other cities, Safe Routes brings together school and parent leaders to identify routes, tools, techniques and education to improve and increase the students use of alternate transportation to school – such as bicycling, walking and car-pooling. Cupertino leaders also retained the nationally recognized bike planning group, Alta Design,
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to develop the city’s first long term strategic bike plan. Slated to be adopted in June 2016, it creates a strategic framework to make Cupertino a Bay Area leader in bicycle features and safety. Based on the new bike plan, we expect the city to significantly increase funding to accomplish the many projects and features – such as a safe “ring route” around Cupertino, re-engineered intersections, more streets with marked bike lanes and better identified routes using “way-finder” signage that gives the cyclist destination information. Next on the city’s agenda - in addition to aggressively implementing the bicycle plan - is to generate a Strategic Pedestrian plan this next year. Walk-Bike Cupertino has developed a full website resource for all things bike/ped related in the Cupertino: from news and events, to maps and safety information to links to other regional partners. You can access it at WalkBikeCupertino.org and sign up for the newsletter. It is free to join our movement and we’ve found that: It works!
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CHEFS OF COMPASSION: 6th ANNUAL BENEFIT EVENT FOR WEST VALLEY COMMUNITY SERVICES
Come share the excitement and fun of a celebrity cooking competition with an opportunity to support a local nonprofit organization. WHEN: Saturday, September 16th 2016 WHERE: Computer History Museum
5:30 pm
Honoring Dorothy Stow & Kay Lohmiller MC: Brian Tong from CNET
1401 N Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View, CA 94043 Ticket Price:
Book your tickets and tables today at: events@wvcommunityservices.org Sponsorship or Auction items: kohinoorc@wvcommunityservices.org www.chefsofcompassion.org www.wvcommunityservices.org
$150 each Table of 10, Price: $1,500 each Contact:
Kohinoor Chakravarty Development Director, West Valley Community Services
About the organizer: West Valley Community Services, is a local 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has been providing supportive services to low income and homeless individuals and families in Santa Clara County for over 40 years. We have a service area includes the 22,000 men, women and children.
Buying or selling your house?
Call someone you can trust Kevin Chen AEZ Realty
Realtor DRE : 01941577
KevinCh@outlook.com Phone : 408.828.6199 Fax : 408.737.7768
Beijing Duck House 北京食府
Suite B, 10883 S Blaney Ave., Cupertino, CA 95014 (408) 366-0588
Suite B, 10883 S Blaney Ave, S I L I CCupertino, O N V A L LCA E Y95014 IMPRESSIONS | August 2016 Phone: (408) 366-0588
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Dahlin Group tackles job growth driven housing crisis with right density projects
John m. thatch, aia, leed ap
Enso, San Jose, California
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n A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens famously opens with, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” The recent controversy over the planned CityPlace development project seems to capture a similar dichotomy (See CityPlace Sidebar). While it remains to be seen how this specific controversy will be resolved, what’s interesting is that it exemplifies a larger Silicon Valley trend: Housing development has seriously lagged behind job creation, making increasing housing costs and congested streets a steadily and rapidly growing problem that has created a lot of buzz, yet, has not been adequately addressed. Dahlin Group has experienced firsthand how housing can fall behind. In one instance, we designed a plan to develop Coyote Valley for the City of San Jose. It was intended to be their future model for a sustainable, vibrant, pedestrian-and-transitoriented mixed-use community, but was ultimately cancelled because
a sentiment developed that the additional housing would not be needed. According to the 2016 Silicon Valley Index published by the Joint Venture Silicon Valley and Institute for Regional Studies: • Between Q2 2014 and Q2 2015, the San Francisco Bay Area created 129,223 additional jobs. • Job growth in Silicon Valley has been accelerating since 2010, with the most rapid growth between Q2 2014 and Q2 2015 at 4.3% (+64,363 jobs). • Since the low in 2010, the total number of jobs in Silicon Valley has grown by 19.6%. • However, in the midst of this economic vitality the Silicon Valley failed to meet its Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA) goals for 2007 to 2014, and there is a shortage of nearly 25,000 units in Silicon Valley. • The Silicon Valley household size has been steadily increasing,
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rising from 2.98 to 3.09 people per household between 2005 and 2014, which indicates that more people are moving in together in an effort to minimize the impact of high housing costs. As an architecture and planning firm known for home building, Dahlin Group operates in the reality of this data on a day-to-day basis. The challenge is how and where can we build enough affordable places to live close to the jobs being created. When you think about the El Camino corridor, which connects the Silicon Valley, Peninsula, and San Francisco, land is scarce and the number of companies located along this corridor is high. The initial housing response to growth has been to develop out further and further from the heart of the Silicon Valley, away from the El Camino corridor in search of undeveloped land. We’ve reached the limit on how far out we can go as commute times become unrea-
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sonable and roads more congested because far flung commuters are forced to rely on their cars. Silicon Valley needs to change their approach and start building a lot more housing in the right density in the right locations in order to close the gap between supply and demand and catch up to job growth. This solution is achievable with smart infill development, which is redeveloping existing neighborhood strip retail centers, parking lots, under-utilized structures and developing in the spaces in between existing development, and using higher density plans and mixed use design to maximize the space and put people closer to jobs and services. Before you pick-up the pitchforks, infill development and high density housing need not exacerbate traffic congestion nor degrade the character of your communities. With thoughtful planning and design, the right high density housing in the right location can: • Make it more affordable for the people who work in Silicon Valley to live here because it will increase the supply of housing, which can help stabilize and potentially lower
the cost of housing. • Reduce commute times and decongest roads by putting people within walkable or biking distance of major transit corridors, jobs, services, and entertainment. • Create new and enhance existing communities by planning and designing neighborhoods with enough density for regular customers to make and keep the local businesses of their local corner store, their daily coffee shop, and their favorite boutiques and shops viable. This is an approach to high density housing already being effectively applied in many Dahlin Group projects that show what the right density for a location looks like in practice. Enso at Baypointe Station|A Fairfield Residential project designed by Dahlin Group By design, residents of Enso at Baypointe Station, a 183-unit apartment community, live in the heart of Silicon Valley. With Baypointe Parkway intersecting both Tasman and Zanker, both residents and the technology companies that line
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these streets – think Cisco, Samsung, SanDisk, and KLA-Tencor to name only a few – are mere steps from the VTA Light Rail. Residents can also easily commute by bike and conveniently store their bikes in the underground parking garage instead of the corner of their apartment’s living room. Whether they need groceries for a night in or want to eat out, Rivermark Village – an awardwinning urban village and Dahlin Group project featuring compact neighborhoods, housing diversity (from apartments at the 60 acre for singles and young couples to 3000 sf homes for families), retail and restaurants, and walkability – is less than three miles away, a short distance by bike or bus. Go three miles in another direction and they can enjoy a little retail therapy at the Great Mall or catch a game or play a game at Dave & Buster’s (also located at the Great Mall). Amenities designed into the project allow residents to hit the weights, grill up a feast with friends, or take a dip at the onsite gym, outdoor grilling area, and pool without the
Enso interior
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need to leave the premises at all. The strategic location and design greatly reduces the need for residents to rely on daily car use, thus reducing the number of people on the roads. Classics at Centennial Place|A Classic Communities project designed by Dahlin Group Centennial Place is innovative because it makes it possible for families to live in a downtown environment by incorporating features of low density (single family) housing as seen in this layout of detached homes at a condominium density. Built on just a half acre of land, these 18 units even have an underground parking structure that has been subdivided into private garages allowing residents to go straight from their garage to their unit without walking through a common area first, which is a detail that showcases how a feature of low density (single family) housing can be seamlessly integrated into a high density layout to strategic effect.
Not only is Redwood City itself centrally located along the El Camino corridor, it is also midway between the Silicon Valley and San Francisco. However, it is being in downtown that allows this project to fully realize the potential of Redwood City’s central location because it puts parents within walking distance of CalTrain. It also means their families are within walking distance of numerous family entertainment options, such as restaurants, movies, and even outdoor music and other community events in the summer.
congestion on Highway 87.
Tamien Station|A Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) project designed by Dahlin Group
Despite the potential building more projects like these have to ease the housing crises without further congesting our roads, 2016 Silicon Valley Index estimates the number of units permitted in 2015 at 5,559, which represents less than half the number of units that were permitted in the prior year. Additionally, they reported that multi-family units represented a much smaller share of total units in 2015 (62.5%) than in 2014 (83%). Their report calls for a return towards more resi-
The plan for the Tamien Station project is to build high density housing on a currently underused VTA parking lot at the Tamien VTA/CalTrain station. It’s hard to get much closer to mass transit than that. Residents will be very close to Downtown San Jose therefore reducing the need to add to the
Classics at Centennial Place, Redwood City, California
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The mix of high density apartment buildings of varying stories ranging from two to five stories has been leveraged in the design to help the new development fit into the existing neighborhoods by arranging the layout such that the heights transition from the existing condominiums to the south into the single family neighborhoods in the north, which maintains the integrity of the look and feel of the surrounding neighborhood, adding to rather degrading the community’s character.
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Northern California Chinese American Building Association (NCCABA) is the professional organization to connect Chinese American builders and all branches of the regional construction and real estate industry, architects, engineers, designers, manufacturers, dealers, tradesmen, broker/agencies, loaners, financial institutions, lawyers, accountants, etc. within Northern California territory for the purpose of mutual advantage and to benefit the industry as a whole. As a nonprofit (pending) membership organization, NCCABA is dedicated to addressing the needs and interests of the members, promoting high professional standards and sound business practices among its members through the enforcement of its code of ethics, maintaining the sustainable and healthy development of the industry in the region, and helping Chinese American entrepreneurs to gain a larger share of the Northern California ‘s booming construction and real estate market. Our first mission is to be one of the most recognized leader in providing business opportunities, education, training, resources, and advocacy for its members while advancing sound public policy for the building industry. NCCABA’s other mission is to become the most influential building industry business networking platform and the one-stop construction resource service provider for all overseas Chinese-background individuals and organizations who has interest in entering Northern California ‘s construction and real estate market.
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Classics at Centennial Place Interior
dential development, and states that an increasing share of multi-family units is needed if Silicon Valley is to close the gap between housing and jobs. This is a sentiment echoed by many policy makers and Dahlin Group. As demonstrated in the projects discussed, Dahlin Group is already using our experience in high density and affordable housing to be an advocate in doing our part to help the residents of Silicon Valley remain residents and help more Silicon Valley workers become residents.
About the Author: John M. Thatch AIA, LEED AP, Vice President Design, Dahlin Group, Pleasanton, CA John is a champion of new thinking and pushing the envelope of design with ideas that create thoughtful, livable and economically viable communities. He is known for challenging each project team to develop the most innovative and economically viable solutions, engaging frequently in design brainstorms and introducing a compre-
hensive perspective and approach to the lifecycle of a community— how a plan reaches tomorrow and lives beyond today. About Dahlin Group: Dahlin Group’s ability to develop strong community visions comes from an understanding of the built environment and lessons learned from 40 years of experience providing planning and design services for housing and community development at a variety of densities and mixed-use. The Evergreen Community in San Jose, now an established and thriving community, is one of many such Dahlin Group projects that has become woven into the fabric of the San Francisco Bay Area.
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The City Place Project The CityPlace project will convert a 240-acre cityowned former landfill, which is currently a golf course and bike track, into a retail and entertainment city center with office space, hotel rooms, convenience retail and food and beverage offerings, and last – and according to San Jose, least – rental residential dwellings. The development will create many jobs, bring in revenue and will be in Santa Clara, so why does San Jose care? According to a public letter written by the City of San Jose, they care because they argue the project as planned is not creating enough housing to match the jobs it will create, and they fear the burden to fill Santa Clara’s housing gap will fall to San Jose.
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Coming to a Headquarter near you! Green Net Zero LEED® Platinum
Courtesy of EHDD Architecture
T
he Packard Foundation's Green Building was designed with a net zero energy goal of producing at least as much power as it consumes each year. Through its energy, water- and resource-conserving characteristics, the building has achieved Net Zero Energy Building TM and LEED® Platinum certifications. Net Zero Energy Offset 100% of building’s energy needs by: • Electricity production via 915 rooftop solar panels • Effective use of daylight to supplement artificial lighting • Efficient heating and cooling using innovative chilled beam technology.
Materials and Waste Minimize construction waste by: • Recycling 95% of materials from pre-existing buildings • Using FSC (Forest Steward ship Council) certified wood from Oregon • Crafting all interior doors from locally salvaged eucalyptus trees Ecosystem Impact Care for local ecosystems by: • Using 90% California native plants in our landscape to eliminate pesticides needed by foreign plants – See plant list
• Plantings provide familiar food and shelter for local birds and insects and attract native pollinators • Using rain gardens and permeable paving to reduce runoff and filter pollutants Work Environment Provide comfortable, healthful environment for employees by using: • 100% outside air for ventilation • Paint, flooring, adhesives and other materials that are low in VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions • Desktop alerts to indicate when doors and windows can be opened for natural ventilation.
Water Conservation Reduce water consumption by 40% through: • Storing up to 20,000 gallons of rainwater for irrigation and toilet flushing • Use living green roof and rooftop gutters to assist with rainwater collection • Irrigate only when and where needed using drip irrigation and smart controls S I L I C O N VA L L E Y I M P R E S S I O N S | A u g u s t
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OUR STATE TREASURER
JOHN CHIANG Funding California’s Future
J
ohn Chiang is California’s 33rd State Treasurer. He’s our state’s investor and banker, overseeing billions of dollars in transactions every year. He sells California’s bonds, invests the state’s money, and manages its cash. He also leads financing authorities that create good-paying jobs, better schools, improved transportation, quality health care, more affordable housing, and a cleaner environment. Chiang has made transparency in government a top priority. In November 2015, he unveiled DebtWatch, a website that offers the public easy access to three decades of data related to debt issued by state and local governments. Chiang was elected to the Board of Equalization in 1998, serving two terms, including three years as board chair. Chiang served as State Controller from 2007 through 2014. He took steps during the Great Recession of 2008-2009 to preserve cash to meet obligations to education and bond holders. He delayed payments and issued IOUs, which kept the state’s credit rating from plunging to junk status. Silicon Valley Impressions had the honor of interviewing the Treasurer on topics that ranged from investments to affordable housing to our state’s educational challenges.
Silicon Valley Impressions: As State Treasurer, your responsibility is to invest money for the state. In what ways do you invest? John Chiang: One of the core functions of the Treasurer’s Office is to safeguard about $70 billion in state and local government funds. The mission is to reduce risk, maintain liquidity, and produce a yield representative of these factors and the overall market. Our short-term investments focus on U.S. Treasury Bills, securities isssued by other federal government agencies, and prime-rated
corporate securities, such as bank certificates of deposit. We hold most of our investments between 160 and 200 days. We deposit some of our funds with community banks with the goal that they be reinvested in small businesses in California.
SVI: How does the Treasurer’s Office promote economic development in California?
Chiang: Among other things, I chair two committees that finance hundreds of millions of dollars worth of construction and rehaSVI: How do you reduce the risks bilitation of thousands of units of affordable housing each year. Last of your investments? year, I led an effort to overhaul affordable housing regulations. The Chiang: We trade only in safe result was an uptick in building so federal government and top-rated far in 2016. Although California is corporate securities. Returns on 1.5 million housing units short of investments belong to our clients, what is needed, I am doing my best state taxpayers, and local governto build more apartments and build ment agencies that participate in our Local Agency Investment Fund. them faster.
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SVI: What kind of impact does California have on the global economy? How important is the global economy for California? Chiang:We are a state of incredible innovation and stand at the epicenter of the technology movement that is transforming our economy. Many people view Silicon Valley as an economic model to emulate - they try to replicate it in hopes of becoming the Silicon Valley of their own region. Silicon Valley is an ecosystem and a culture that spawns incredible change. It attracts bright, diverse people who come here from around the world and take back ideas to their home countries. It is a culture that is thriving and obviously very successful. SVI: What interactions do you have with the international community? Chiang: I chair fourteen economic development authorities and they sometimes provide funding to international companies and entrepreneurs that want to do business in California. I talk to these groups about specific business opportunities the state of California can provide -- such as sales tax exclusions, grants, and credit support programs. I also regularly lead trade delegations to China. And, of course, I strongly welcome foreign investments here. Our state has benefited a great deal from recent economic development in many Asian countries. SVI: What is the top priority in your Blueprint for Growth and Innovation that was released on February 9th of this year? Chiang: There are many priorities, but for me, education is fundamental. To fix any issue in the state, we
have to make sure that individuals are fully equipped and financially secure. The state’s schools have a large enrollment. The public education system is critical to ensuring that we build healthy neighborhoods, create jobs, and invest in infrastructure. To help with education, we must assist the school-site leadership -- principals, teachers, school employees, and parents -- in building strong, working partnerships to give our children the best education. In the past, when the state was broke, we did not pay schools on time. During the last financial crisis in 2009, I worked hard to make sure that California was in good financial health. In 2009, California almost went over the fiscal cliff because we came very close to defaulting on our debt. As State Controller, I challenged then-Governor Schwarzenegger to make difficult decisions, including issuing IOUs and withholding tax refunds. Other important priorities of mine include combating climate change and rebuilding our state’s highways, public works, and other critical infrastructure. SVI: Why is education your priority? Chiang:Without an educated workforce, we will not qualify for good paying jobs. We need to provide the best education possible so people can get good paying jobs. SVI: What is your understanding of college education costs in California compared to other states? Chiang: Higher education is a good value In California. The problem is that we have a high percentage of college students who do not
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graduate. Education inflation is outpacing pay growth in California. Therefore, we need to make sure that students are career-ready, getting good paying jobs right after they finish school. California’s community college costs are less than other states. The University of California and California State University systems are comparable in tuitions and fees to what is found elsewhere. However, California is an expensive state, so the associated cost of living is incredibly high. Leadership at the state level needs to work out plans to make education more accessible so students can graduate with less debt. A Message to the Community from the Treasurer According to the Milken Institute, the San Jose-Santa Clara-Menlo Park area is the number one high-performing economic region in the United States. I think the residents of Silicon Valley (as well as everywhere in California) appreciate that recognition -they recognize how important it is to build relationships that can make a community really strong by becoming partners, constructive problem solvers, and responsible citizens. When I put together my blueprint for growth and innovation, I included plans to increase financing for transportation and housing. But government cannot accomplish such things acting in isolation. I encourage everyone to join me in further developing viable, transformational solutions for our communities.
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New store in Santa Clara 2732 Augustine Dr, Santa Clara, CA 95054
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2016 US-China Green Energy Summit
美国前能源部长，诺贝尔奖获得者朱棣文与武汉市政府代表，DSD（点心数据集团）董事董海涛就【新能源智能网联汽车产业生态系统】 的合作计划，亲切交谈。
U.S. former Department of Energy Secretary, Nobel Price Winner, Steven Chu, with Representative from City of Wuhan, Chairman of the Board for DSD Haitao Dong discussing partnership in New Energy Intelligent Connected Vehicle Ecosystem. 點心數據集團有限公司
DSD GROUP Limited
Haitao Dong Tel. 408-898-8781 (Silicon Valley) Tel. 186 1669 0669 (China) Email: haitao@mindmap.com.cn
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Published on Jul 15, 2017
Silicon Valley Impressions Magazine Summer 2016 issue. Out with the old boring urban landscape and welcome the beautiful buildings and archi...
Published on Jul 15, 2017
Silicon Valley Impressions Magazine Summer 2016 issue. Out with the old boring urban landscape and welcome the beautiful buildings and archi...