San Jose landmark project dropped

Silicon Valley nonprofit leaders are going back to the drawing board after recently announcing the cancellation of a long-anticipated San Jose landmark project.

San José Spotlight reported in May that nonprofit Urban Confluence raised more than $3.3 million over several years to build a towering art installation dubbed “The Breeze of Innovation” within Plaza de Cesar Chavez. The group’s funding had dwindled to about $35,000 and the project never got off the ground.

One month after declining to discuss the project’s status, the nonprofit’s Executive Director Steve Borkenhagen issued an email Wednesday announcing the project is being dropped in order to support “an even more comprehensive vision.” Details surrounding the upcoming project have yet to be released, and Borkenhagen did not respond to a request for additional comments.

The originally planned Breeze of Innovation project was estimated to cost between $100 million and $200 million.

“After confronting some practical realities in our process, we’ve made the strategic decision to evolve beyond Breeze of Innovation toward an even more comprehensive vision that still appropriately honors Plaza de César Chávez,” Borkenhagen said in the email. “This reimagined approach will feature a new landmark design with meaningful park elements that celebrate César Chávez, enhance infrastructure for live events, and transform the park into San Jose’s front porch, outdoor living room, and community gathering space.”

Of the millions raised, Urban Confluence spent about $889,000 on advertising and promotions, while Borkenhagen received $140,000 in compensation last year, and has collected more than half a million dollars since 2017.

The nonprofit spent additional money on design and architecture development, office expenses, information technology and more.

The Chavez Family Vision, an organization started in 1998 by Cesar Chavez’s family to promote his legacy, expressed concern about the plans after the proposed location was moved from Guadalupe River Park to the plaza in 2023.

Gabriel Medina, whose grandmother was Cesar Chavez’s older sister, threatened to withdraw support without a more inclusive management plan for the land. Chavez Family Vision representatives did not respond to a request for comment.

Larry Ames, District 6 neighborhood leadership group chair, has been closely following the Breeze of Innovation since its proposal, and he said he’s happy to see the original project being left behind to focus on a landmark more appropriate in size for the 2.3-acre plaza.

“My hope is that whatever new project they plan to build for Plaza de Cesar Chavez doesn’t interfere with plaza use itself,” he told San José Spotlight. “I just never really appreciated the design for the Breeze of Innovation, it did not resonate with me and did not remind me of San Jose in any means at all.”

Ames said he supports the proposed sculpture of San Jose’s historic Electric Tower put forward as an alternative design.

Katrina Stevens, president and CEO of The Tech Interactive Museum, said the downtown institution is glad to see the continued development of Plaza de Cesar Chavez, as she has long said the project could bring more visitors to the neighboring museum.

“The plaza is finally getting the attention it really deserves,” Christmas In The Park Managing Director Debbie Degutis told San José Spotlight. “I’m very glad that they’re focused on something that’s more in scale with the park, and I hope that their organization really listens hard to the community on how to best honor Cesar Chavez.”

In his email, Borkenhagen said Urban Confluence is soliciting feedback from the community to ensure residents feel like they have their own world-class landmark. Even the iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower also encountered frustrations and unexpected challenges, he added.
The Breeze of Innovation’s 500-light rod design was selected in 2021 after judges reviewed almost 1,000 submissions for San Jose’s next iconic landmark. City leaders first envisioned a plan to erect a light tower in 2019 before replacing it with an international ideas competition — leading to the creation of Urban Confluence.

“We’ll share updates soon, including preliminary concepts for our new Plaza de César Chávez vision,” Borkenhagen said in his email. “Thank you for your continued support, patience, and trust. Please reach out with questions, ideas, or partnership opportunities.”

Contact Vicente Vera at [email protected] or follow @VicenteJVera on X.