N. 13th St. abuts one of San Jose's older , most well-used and arguably most beautiful neighborhood parks, Backesto Park, which dates to 1922. A new, enlarged community center capable of providing a full array of park programs. Improved park lighting. Renovation or removal of the bocce ball court. Bus shelter at southeast corner of park, along North 15th Street at Empire Street.
School children wait for their school buses at that location.
NNA had been actively lobbying for redevelopment funding for the N. 13th St business district for the two years preceding the vote. Downtown councilmember Cindy Chavez, honoring a campaign promise to Northside residents, recommended N. 13th St. as a redevelopment area to Mayor Ron Gonzales, who included the area in his budget proposal. Blighted areas have conditions such as the existence of buildings that are unsafe or unhealthy to live or work in, depreciated or stagnant property values, abnormally high business vacancies, abnormally low lease rates, high turnover, abandoned buildings or excessive vacant lots, the lack of necessary commercial buildings, an excess of bars or liquor stores, and a high crime rate. NNA has been assured that N. 13 th St. qualifies as blighted. Most of the Northside neighborhood, which extends from Julian to Hedding and 6th Street to Coyote Creek, is encompassed by either the N. 13th St. or the Five Wounds survey areas.