A new affordable housing project could bring 90 units to the Willow Glen area of San Jose. Developers recently purchased multiple parcels at 520 and 544 West Alma Avenue, including the closed-down Agave Sports Bar. Plans filed by Resources for Community Development include outlines for site demolition and the construction of a new affordable building. Van Meter Williams Pollack is responsible for the designs.
The five-story project would include four floors of residential housing above ground-floor office and amenity spaces. The residential units would consist of 89 rentable units and a single manager unit. Of these, 68 would be designated for low-income residents and 21 would be for very-low-income residents. Amenities would include a large community room, laundry services, and a second-floor open-air courtyard.
The developers have released special plans for the building landscaping, including a descending terrace design leading from the second-story courtyard to the banks of the nearby Guadalupe River, taking advantage of the location’s natural features. The plans include details for restoration and enhancement of the natural area, improving conditions for building residents and the general public.
While developers have included plans for on-site parking, the building’s location less than a 10-minute walk from Tamien Station gives residents excellent access to bus, VTA, and Caltrain options. In addition to the high walkability, driving residents would also benefit from nearby access to the Guadalupe Parkway, minimizing the additional congestion of smaller city streets ordinarily caused by densification.
Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail
Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews
A vast improvement over the existing lot and won’t clash with the scale of surrounding uses. Approve without delay!