Cinnabar Site Redevelopment

Frequently Asked Questions

Where will the baseball fields be relocated to?

After exploring various options, Dartmouth Middle School emerged as the preferred choice due to its size, proximity to Cinnabar, alignment with program needs, and the potential to enhance an existing school site. The current plan includes renovations of the entire fields area with construction of four fields - (2) 200’ outfields, (1) 155’ outfield, and (1) 135’ outfield. A potential site layout was presented to the Board on February 12, 2024. However, before proceeding, a comprehensive design would be developed, incorporating stakeholder input to ensure the layout and amenities meet the needs and expectations of all involved parties.

When will the baseball fields be relocated?

The current close of escrow is December 2025; however, construction would not start until the City entitlement process is completed, a phase that could extend up to two years after the close of escrow. Mana Investors and the District have reached an agreement to permit the use of the baseball fields post-escrow closure. Amendment #4 approved in May 2024 allows the use of the fields to continue for either (i) for up to one hundred eighty (180) days following the Close of Escrow or (ii) until thirty(30) days after Mana provides the District written notice of the issuance of a pending grading permit by the City of San Jose for the Housing Project, whichever date is later. 

What is the current ownership status of the Cinnabar school site? Is it still owned by Union School District, or has it been sold?

The District currently owns the property; however the property is in escrow with Mana Investors. The transfer of the property is anticipated to occur in December 2025. Note, the exchange of the property is only for the fields; the District will retain ownership of the school and Maintenance and Operations buildings.

Added | How will concerns about traffic be managed?

We share the community's goal of ensuring safety. Changes to the public right-of-way, including traffic lights and median changes, fall under the City's jurisdiction. The City is aware of these requests and will be studying them in the Transportation Analysis portion of the CEQA document. If you have questions regarding traffic, please contact the City's Project Manager, Jason Lee, at jason.lee@sanjoseca.gov. 

Added | What types of impact fees does USD collect and how are they spent?

USD collects school impact fees, not traffic impact fees. School impact fees are used for school facilities to accommodate new students from the housing project. "The District plans to use developer fees for projects including, but not limited to, the construction of transitional kinder classrooms as well as extensive modernization projects included in the District’s January 2024 Facility Assessment Report conducted by Finney Architects." (pg. 7 Union School District-Developer Fee Study March 2024). These fees cannot be used for City infrastructure improvements.

Added | Is there capacity in USD schools to serve students from the development?

Based on the latest demographic study (Spring 2024), the student generation factors for USD for new residential developments are as follows: 0.124 for multi-family market-rate units, 0.555 for multi-family below market-rate units, and 0.291 for single-family units. 

With a total of 108 new single-family homes, we would expect the development to generate an additional 31 students. There is sufficient capacity at Guadalupe and Dartmouth, the schools assigned based on the development addresses, to accommodate these new students.

I missed the City of San Jose CEQA meeting. Where can I get more information?

More information regarding the meeting including a recording of the meeting can be found on the City's website by clicking here. Additional questions regarding the City of San Jose's process can be directed to:

City of San Jose Project Manager: 

Jason Lee: jason.lee@sanjoseca.gov | (408) 535-3887

City of San Jose Environmental Project Manager:

Cort Hitchens: cort.hitchens@sanjoseca.gov | (408) 794-7386