Council approves 1,792‑unit Irvine project at 2518 Mission College Boulevard after traffic signal study pledge

The Santa Clara City Council voted unanimously to approve the Irvine Company27s proposed redevelopment of the Santa Clara Park office site at 2518 Mission College Boulevard, authorizing an addendum to the Freedom Circle Future Focus Area EIR, a general plan text amendment, a rezone to Planned Development and a vesting tentative subdivision map for the 1,792‑unit residential development.

The project converts a 25.7‑acre office site to high‑density residential within the city27s Freedom Circle future focus area, and includes five five‑story residential buildings, roughly 3,500 square feet of retail space, about 3.4 acres of public parkland and a north–south pedestrian connector to the San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail. The developer and staff told council 15 percent of units (about 268–194 units after rounding discussed by staff and applicant) will be set aside as affordable under the city27s ordinance; the applicant also plans 67 percent of units as smaller "affordable by design" homes targeted at teachers, students and nearby workers.

Why it matters: The decision moves one of the largest proposed residential projects in the city27s Freedom Circle area forward, adding a large number of market and subsidized units intended to help Santa Clara meet its regional housing allocations while reshaping an employment‑rich corridor to housing and parks.

What the council…