| South Valley SpotlightMorgan Hill · San Martin · Gilroy |
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| Read Wednesdays by 357 homeowners
↑ 262 this month · Reach them → | Wednesday, May 6, 2026 Morgan Hill's empty
lake has an update.Valley Water says the Anderson Dam outlet tunnel is entering its final stages, one of the pieces needed before Anderson Reservoir can come back. Anderson DamHome FrontWeekend List |  | The tunnel under Anderson Dam is almost throughValley Water says the Anderson Dam outlet tunnel is entering its final stages, with major concrete work inside the tunnel complete and installation underway on the 13-foot pipe that will carry releases to Coyote Creek. For Morgan Hill, this is the empty-lake update worth watching. The tunnel is one of the pieces that has to work before Anderson Reservoir can come back. Valley Water has said dam construction is expected to start in January 2027. The short version for homeowners is flood safety first, water storage later. The reservoir has been drained for years because the dam needs a seismic rebuild. The tunnel gives crews a way to manage releases while the larger retrofit moves forward. It is not a refill date. It is progress on the infrastructure that makes a refill possible. |
| Home Front · Weekly What's moving in South Valley real estateMorgan Hill $1.225M Down 9.6% YoY median |
Gilroy $1.0925M Up 0.2% YoY median |
Listings 178 / 139 Days 11 / 26 |
Morgan Hill is still moving faster. Gilroy gives buyers more room to compare. The useful part is not the market headline. It is seeing real homes against the numbers. | Three homes to compare | 16260 San Ramon Dr$879,888 · 3bd / 2.5ba · 1,347 sqft The under-$900k Morgan Hill test. Updated, lower-maintenance, and below the city median. |
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 | 7135 Yorktown Dr$1,049,000 · 4bd / 2.5ba · 2,085 sqft Family-sized and close enough to the median to show where Gilroy sellers are testing demand. |
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 | 14200 Sycamore Ave$1,500,000 · 2bd / 1.5ba · 1,896 sqft · 3.87 acres Acreage, well, septic, barn space, and future-use math. San Martin plays by different rules. |
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| | 🧾 Trash Bills | Morgan Hill trash bills may rise July 1 Morgan Hill Council is set to hold a Recology rate hearing tonight for a 2.82% adjustment that would take effect July 1. Basic residential service would move from $44.78 to $46.04 per month. Hillside residential would move from $48.71 to $50.08. For a commercial 3-yard weekly dumpster, the monthly rate would move from $492.57 to $506.46. Council files → Meeting record → |
| ✉ Homeowner Mailers | That water-line warranty mailer would be optional Morgan Hill Council is set to consider a three-year agreement for the HomeServe Service Line Warranty Program. The coverage would be voluntary, with options for exterior water line, exterior sewer line, and in-home plumbing and drainage. The city role would be limited to logo use and marketing-material approval. Staff recommends a $7,500 annual marketing payment to the city. The other option would skip that payment and lower resident rates by $0.50 per coverage type each month. Council files → Meeting record → |
| 🎡 Gilroy Gardens | Gilroy Gardens is eyeing more year-round events Gilroy's May 4 packet includes a capital plan for a Hecker Pass Outdoor Events Center at Gilroy Gardens. The plan shows $150,000 in deferred maintenance and $750,000 in improvements, with no city financial contribution listed. Bookings are projected to rise from 25 in 2027 to 60 in 2029. Gilroy Council files → Meeting record → |
| 🏘 Gilroy Housing | 95 Howson townhomes head back into view The 95 Howson Street proposal calls for 42 market-rate townhomes on 1.99 acres, with nine buildings, 3- to 4-bedroom plans, attached two-car garages, a picnic area, and a playground. Gilroy's project page also says an open soil contamination case must be addressed with county health officials before occupancy. Project page → Council files → |
| |  | Don't promise the kids U-pick cherries yet.Local cherry season is likely to feel thinner this year. The Gilroy Dispatch reports growers from Coyote Valley to Hollister are seeing one of the lightest crops in memory after a warm winter and heat during bloom. Andy's Orchard in Morgan Hill estimated no more than about 5% of a normal crop. Translation for families is simple. Check farm pages before you drive, expect shorter U-pick windows if they open at all, and use the farmers market as your backup plan. The bad crop is a bummer, but it is also a reminder that this valley's food calendar still depends on weather, not vibes. |  | Mo Jo Hill Café for coffee, crepes, and a downtown meet-up spotIf you're heading to the Farmers' Market or thinking about Open Streets later this month, Mo Jo Hill Café is an easy "meet you there" pick right downtown. They are at 2nd and Monterey, next to the Granada Theater, with coffee, breakfast and lunch, and gelato for the kids (or, honestly, for us). A downtown stop we would send a friend to. 17400 Monterey Rd STE 1B, Morgan Hill · (408) 776-0571 |
| 📒 South Valley Directory This week's featured businesses.Local spots we trust. Picked by the Spotlight team. | | Craft Roots Vegan Bar & GrillFeatured | Morgan Hill |
| Plant-based burgers, pizza, bowls, local beer, and cocktails in downtown Morgan Hill. craftroots-mh.com → |
| | The Neon ExchangeFeatured | Gilroy |
| Downtown Gilroy coworking, event space, and Be Seen Gallery in a restored Monterey Street building. theneonexchange.com → |
| | Rocca's MarketFeatured | San Martin |
| San Martin market with deli sandwiches, groceries, and the road-trip stop locals still point friends toward. Rocca's Market page → |
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| Anderson is the big, slow-moving story this week because the empty reservoir is one of those Morgan Hill landmarks everyone sees and few people get a plain update on. Then there is the everyday stuff too. Homes to compare, trash bill changes to watch, the mailer fine print, and a weekend list for when you are done reading city packets. Quick question. What South Valley spot deserves more love right now? Restaurant, bakery, taco truck, winery, coffee shop, park, trail, anything. Hit reply with the place and your go-to order or weekend move. Sheena & Ryan, South Valley Spotlight | ⭐ For South Valley Realtors If you're a realtor in Morgan Hill, Gilroy, or San Martin, this is for you. We have exactly one Founding Agent slot per city. Claim your city → |
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