james b.a.r.t. sits right next to downtown san jose. city officials would love to have this become a amenity for the new housing they plan to build but those plans are on hold at the park's future has run headfirst into its past. >> it is extremely historic. the park has been around for hundreds of years. >> reporter: in recent times, st. james park became a haven for drug sales and lately, a hangout for homeless people. so, on most days, it stays pretty quiet and empty. >> it is an urban park that people are outside of downtown, people are afraid to come there. and it has a horrible reputation. >> reporter: phil maresca is part of an effort to change that. the city has spent 10 years and $4 million to develop a redesign of the park , and the centerpiece would be a music venue called the lemon pavilion, san jose. >> that is the part that will bring people to this location. that is the part of it that will activate it on a regular basis. >> reporter: a very regular basis. in order to get help from a philanthropic developer called the lem