CatalyzeSV

07/28/2026

Has mass timber’s housing moment arrived in the South Bay? https://sanjosespotlight.com/has-mass-timbers-housing-moment-arrived-in-the-south-bay/

Our ED Alex Shoor helped shape this story and is quoted in it!

South Bay housing advocates have long touted the benefits of mass timber, a wood-based class of construction materials said to save builders time and money. After years of false starts, it appears their long wait to see mass timber housing projects get off the ground may finally be coming to an end.

07/16/2026

Thanks to and Emily Cox for inviting our Executive Director, Alex Shoor, to be on this panel last week in Downtown about the state of in & right now.

One point Alex touched upon is how state laws have been beneficial in making it easier to build , while there is still a need to engage the community to build *lasting* support for good development. And that engagement needs to be more strategic than simply having an engagement process where it feels like a development project is up on a target for the community to throw whatever critical darts it wants at it. Instead, community conversations should focus on what the community can impact-improve versus what is non-negotiable.

One point Alex touched upon is how state laws have been beneficial in making it easier to build , while there is still a need to engage the community to build *lasting* support for good development. And that engagement needs to be more strategic than simply having an engagement process where it feels like a development project is up on a target for the community to throw whatever critical darts it wants at it. Instead, community conversations should focus on what the community can impact-improve versus what is non-negotiable.

07/10/2026

To all the developers with whom we work, we hope you'll consider pursuing this VTA opportunity.

New development opportunity! 🚨 VTA has officially released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a transit-oriented development on our 1.7-acre site at the Milpitas Transit Center.

We encourage all interested firms to review the materials and submit a proposal.

Key Dates:
📍 Site Walk: July 14 at 10:00 AM
❓ Q&A Deadline: July 17 by 5:00 PM
📥 Proposal Deadline: August 21 by 5:00 PM
🔗 Learn more about the site: vta.org/milpitasdevelopment

Please submit all questions via the process outlined in the RFP document by the Q&A deadline. Refer to the online portal for full details and updates.

07/02/2026

From our ED Alex Shoor:

“I think Californians are very focused on making life more affordable. There’s no greater indicator of the lack of affordability in the state, and no greater way of improving that affordability than building housing ..."

Santa Clara County may see another funding boost to build more affordable housing—if voters approve a bond measure in November. On June 25, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a $11.25 billion affordable housing bond measure that would provide funding for home ownership, permanent supportive housing and the ...

06/24/2026

Even the New York Times got in on this action: an Idaho high school kid working as a Little League baseball umpire skillfully navigated a dispute with a coach about whether to start playing the game.

Watch what the umpire does toward the end of this video: in the face of the recalcitrant coach, he appeals to the players, asking them whether they want the game to go forward, to which they say, "Yes!"

Just like this umpire did with this game, when a single person is trying to disrupt a community meeting, one tool you can use is to appeal to the broader group of participants!

This is a technique we first saw Eileen Goodwin expertly employ when facilitating a community meeting.

When Catalyze SV facilitates meetings, we liken our role to 1/3 welcoming neighbor, 1/3 general, and 1/3 umpire.

Whether at a baseball game or in a community meeting, an umpire/facilitator keeps it fair so everyone plays by the same rules and can participate!



https://www.instagram.com/p/DYkyrD8DqL-/?hl=en&img_index=2

06/19/2026

report from / City of Cupertino

05/07/2026

A Revival for Catalyze SV ☄️ - https://mailchi.mp/catalyzesiliconvalley.org/2026majorfundingannouncement

05/04/2026

This Wed, 5/6: Your Input at Workshop in Campbell - https://mailchi.mp/catalyzesiliconvalley.org/may6campbellmmtpworkshopinvitetocampbellzipcodes

04/18/2026

Action Alert 10.3: Now is not the time to go downwards - https://mailchi.mp/catalyzesiliconvalley.org/agrihoodcommunitymeetingapril2026

04/18/2026

Materials for Mass Timber Momentum - https://mailchi.mp/catalyzesiliconvalley.org/closingoutmasstimbermomentumseries