Historic San Jose Flea Market Gets One-Year Lease On Life

CBS San Francisco

December 18, 2023

SAN JOSE -- The Berryessa Flea Market, a San Jose institution for more than six decades, has been on the chopping block for two years as plans for a massive new housing complex moved forward. But plans change and, while there is still an intention to build on the land, the market's vendors got a temporary reprieve.

Sitting next to the Berryessa BART station, the flea market property is prime real estate for housing. In 2021, the city approved a plan to build nearly 3,500 homes on the site. But, with the cost of construction rising, the property owners changed their plan, proposing to build only about 900 homes. The city isn't thrilled about that. They want the developer to deliver the promised number of housing units.

"You know, if it means waiting a few years until interest rates come down and cost of construction stabilizes, I think that's the right thing to do," said San Jose councilmember David Cohen.

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