King and Story
Encyclopedia
The intersection of King and Story serves as an important marker for the center of a neighborhood in East San Jose
, California
. More generally, the region is called East San Jose
or (colloquially) the "East Side".
In the 1930s, future agricultural labor union leader César Chávez
and his family moved into the neighborhood. It was here that Chávez first began his political actions, registering voters and organizing English language
classes for the mostly Mexican American
residents. The first grocery stores targeted by the NFWA grape boycott
were on King Road.
The San Jose Redevelopment Agency (SJRA) pursued redevelopment of the intersection, successfully locating a grocery store on the north-east corner before pursuing eminent domain to redevelop the south-east and south-west corners. The SJRA was successfully able to acquire the south-east corner and redevelop removing vacant and abandoned buildings, while adding needed banking and shopping options for the local community in conjunction with Bay Area local developers Blake-Hunt Ventures. However the City was fought in court as its pursued acquisition of the Tropicana shopping center on the South-west corner, the SJRA abandoned acquisition of the entire shopping center and settled for acquisition of certain portions and the redevelopment of the remainder in conjunction with the existing owners. The Connecticut Kelo case being fought in court at the same time was clearly a factor in the City's final decisions. In 2003, the city council considered a bill to rename King Road, named for an 1851 settler to San Jose, after Martin Luther King, Jr.
The proposal was generally supported by the African American
community, and opposed by the Hispanic population, with significant minorities in each group on differing sides. For example, the president of the local chapter of the NAACP opposed the change, while the Chávez family supported it. The city council eventually rejected the proposal.
The Mexican Heritage Plaza
, Kelley Park
, and Lake Cunningham
are some of the most popular attractions in East San Jose
.
The area surrounding King and Story is a vital cultural hub for the rapidly expanding East San Jose Community. King Road is home to a One Stop county services building, and area landmark Eastridge Shopping Mall is undergoing a multi-million dollar expansion.
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
(VTA) light rail is expanding into the region. Redevelopment of some neighborhoods is also a city priority. One such project, on Summer Street, includes the renovation and construction of new housing by the San Jose Conservation Corps
YouthBuild job training and education program.
East San Jose
East San Jose is the name for several neighborhoods east of downtown San Jose, California. These neighborhoods include:* King and Story* Alum Rock* East Foothills* Little Portugal-Demographics:...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. More generally, the region is called East San Jose
East San Jose
East San Jose is the name for several neighborhoods east of downtown San Jose, California. These neighborhoods include:* King and Story* Alum Rock* East Foothills* Little Portugal-Demographics:...
or (colloquially) the "East Side".
In the 1930s, future agricultural labor union leader César Chávez
César Chávez
César Estrada Chávez was an American farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers ....
and his family moved into the neighborhood. It was here that Chávez first began his political actions, registering voters and organizing English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
classes for the mostly Mexican American
Mexican American
Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican descent. As of July 2009, Mexican Americans make up 10.3% of the United States' population with over 31,689,000 Americans listed as of Mexican ancestry. Mexican Americans comprise 66% of all Hispanics and Latinos in the United States...
residents. The first grocery stores targeted by the NFWA grape boycott
Boycott
A boycott is an act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with a person, organization, or country as an expression of protest, usually for political reasons...
were on King Road.
The San Jose Redevelopment Agency (SJRA) pursued redevelopment of the intersection, successfully locating a grocery store on the north-east corner before pursuing eminent domain to redevelop the south-east and south-west corners. The SJRA was successfully able to acquire the south-east corner and redevelop removing vacant and abandoned buildings, while adding needed banking and shopping options for the local community in conjunction with Bay Area local developers Blake-Hunt Ventures. However the City was fought in court as its pursued acquisition of the Tropicana shopping center on the South-west corner, the SJRA abandoned acquisition of the entire shopping center and settled for acquisition of certain portions and the redevelopment of the remainder in conjunction with the existing owners. The Connecticut Kelo case being fought in court at the same time was clearly a factor in the City's final decisions. In 2003, the city council considered a bill to rename King Road, named for an 1851 settler to San Jose, after Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
The proposal was generally supported by the African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
community, and opposed by the Hispanic population, with significant minorities in each group on differing sides. For example, the president of the local chapter of the NAACP opposed the change, while the Chávez family supported it. The city council eventually rejected the proposal.
The Mexican Heritage Plaza
Mexican Heritage Plaza
The Mexican Heritage Plaza is a museum and cultural center in San José, California, USA that opened in 1999. It is operated by the City of San Jose....
, Kelley Park
Kelley Park
Kelley Park in San Jose, California, USA is 156 acres , including diverse facilities such as Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, the Japanese Friendship Garden, History Park at Kelley Park, Portuguese Historical Museum, and Viet Museum within the history park...
, and Lake Cunningham
Lake Cunningham
Lake Cunningham Park is an artificial lake in East San Jose, California, near the Eastridge Mall and Eastridge Transit Center. It is not a geological feature recognized in the Geographic Names Information System . It is located on Capitol Expressway and stands next to Reid-Hillview Airport...
are some of the most popular attractions in East San Jose
East San Jose
East San Jose is the name for several neighborhoods east of downtown San Jose, California. These neighborhoods include:* King and Story* Alum Rock* East Foothills* Little Portugal-Demographics:...
.
The area surrounding King and Story is a vital cultural hub for the rapidly expanding East San Jose Community. King Road is home to a One Stop county services building, and area landmark Eastridge Shopping Mall is undergoing a multi-million dollar expansion.
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is a special-purpose district responsible for public transit services, congestion management, specific highway improvement projects, and countywide transportation planning for Santa Clara County, California, United States...
(VTA) light rail is expanding into the region. Redevelopment of some neighborhoods is also a city priority. One such project, on Summer Street, includes the renovation and construction of new housing by the San Jose Conservation Corps
San Jose Conservation Corps
The San Jose Conservation Corps is a youth job training and education program in San Jose, California. The program serves youth 18-27 years of age who desire job training and completion of their high school diploma or G.E.D.....
YouthBuild job training and education program.