Google buys downtown San Jose

Since December 2016, including the most recent property deal, Google has now spent at least $237 million buying an eclectic array of industrial and retail sites, vacant lots, and even residential properties [in downtown San Jose].

https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/12/03/google-buys-downtown-san-jose-industrial-property-in-transit-village-area-in-3-million-cash-deal/

Reminds me of the old days of the Industrial Revolution where large employers would build (and own) their own towns and employees would become their serfs.  Their wages would largely be taken back by their employer in the form of rent and repayment for food at the company store.

They should call the development "Brinton" or "Larryville".

See: Saltaire