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vol . 5 , no. 21 : january 21-27, 2026 : losgatan.com
santa cruz' flock breakup p4 : mural unveiled p7 : hall of fame inductees p9 : north 40 opposition p11 Faizi Samadani / Los Gatan
THE COUNCIL OKAYS NEXT 450 UNITS FOR NORTH 40 PROJECT, 77 OF THEM SLATED TO BE AFFORDABLE 16 of these homes will be reserved for residents with mental disabilities Drew Penner, Editor
On Jan. 13, Los Gatos Town Council greenlit Phase 2 of the North 40 mixed-use project, from Grosvenor Americas, which features 450 units of housing, including 77 affordable units—16 of which will be reserved for residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The approval, which allows the reshaping of one of the last remaining orchards in this stretch of Silicon Valley into a tech-modernist built environment, was a split 3-2 decision, as, after several hours of discussion during a special meeting, former mayors Mary Badame and Matthew Hudes voted against. “This was a difficult decision, and one that I take very seriously,” Mayor Rob Moore said in a text interview after the pivotal meeting for the future of the town. “Reasonable people can—and do—disagree about this project. I respect those disagreements, and I do not view tonight’s decision as a reflection of anyone’s commitment to Los Gatos or lack thereof.” Many locals are worried new developments—or at least poorly planned ones—could hurt their property values, or reduce their quality of living. But the community is in the midst of an eight-year cycle where it’s required to try to produce at least 1,993 homes, to catch up for the years where ➝ North 40, 10
BATHED IN SUNSHINE Lisa Kilkenny holds the door for a customer. The restaurant she owns with Steve Angelo, the Purple Onion Cafe, is marking two decades in business, this spring.
PURPLE ONION CAFE TURNS 20 THIS YEAR Owners reflect on the journey to becoming a beloved town staple Faizi Samadani, Contributor
The Purple Onion Cafe, which will celebrate its 20th year this spring, began as a catering business in Campbell in 2004, before opening in April 2006 in
Los Gatos. Business partners Steve Angelo and Lisa Kilkenny met at a restaurant in 1995 called A Matter of Taste, across the street where Namaste is now. Kilkenny was the pastry chef. Angelo began working there when his cousins scored him a job. The two hit it off and, less than a decade later, began their own business.
The Purple Onion moved into the former home of Cafe Siena, at 26 E. Main St. Once the lease was signed, Angelo and Kilkenny had just four days to get situated. They were concerned the Cafe Siena regulars might change their morning routine. The Cafe Siena customers were ➝ Purple Onion, 12
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