YIMBY has received detailed plans for the University Station redevelopment at 451-475 El Camino Real in Santa Clara and San Jose. The proposal could create over four hundred units in an apartment building and townhomes next to the Santa Clara Caltrain station. The Morley Brothers, a prominent Silicon Valley real estate developer, is responsible for the project.
University Station apartment complex overlooking El Camino Real, rendering by KTGY
The new plans have been shared by the project developer. Eric Morley, co-founder and principal of the Morley Bros., told YIMBY, “we look forward to delivering much needed housing and affordable housing near transit in conformance with Santa Clara’s General Plan designation for the property and in collaboration with the City and community.”
The University Station redevelopment spans 10.96 acres next to transit, including less than an acre of land in San Jose. Crews will oversee demolishing the four existing office buildings and two parking structures. The small retail center by Caltrain is outside of the project scope and will remain open.
University Station residential development property outline, image courtesy the Morley Bros
University Station development townhomes view, rendering by KTGY
The master plan envisions 406 units, of which 82 will be designated as affordable to lower-income households. Most of the housing will be located within the 298-unit four-story apartment complex, achieving a density of 70 units per acre. The remaining 108 townhomes will average 16 dwelling units per acre. As well, 13 townhomes will be within the San Jose city limits.
KTGY is responsible for the architecture. Illustrations for the apartment complex show a familiar podium-style design with setbacks to break apart the overall massing. The townhomes will feature a similar facade scheme, including Juliet balconies and horizontal lap-siding. The masterplan map provides a generic view of how the over two dozen new structures will be spread across the site, surrounded by prospective landscaping.
The applicant is filing for Senate Bill 330 to expedite approval. This will allow the developer to use the State Density Bonus program, increase residential capacity, and apply for zoning waivers.
University Station area context, image courtesy the Morley Bros
The central location will offer residents transit options via Caltrain, VTA, and the proposed BART Station. Residents will be near retail, a hotel, offices, and the expansive Santa Clara University campus. Looking forward to how the project hopes to contribute to the neighborhood, Morley said, “Our plans for new high-density housing along El Camino Real will complement the existing residential neighborhood, enhance the mixed-use district, and support transit ridership.”
Bixby Land Company is the property owner, which spans 451, 469, 471, and 475 El Camino Real. The estimated cost and timeline for construction have yet to be established.
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This is hilarious
Its honestly too funny
Wait what is funny?
Huh? Please explain.
Literally can’t stop laughing
the entirety of the bay area is hilarious 😆
I guess $12b to extend BART to Santa Clara wasn’t enough to change developer ambitions. We’re still planning townhomes in a city that doesn’t have a real downtown. Take a peak at what Vancouver or Toronto is doing with TOD as they plan extensions to their systems.
Now if this was light rail? I wouldn’t mind it, but BART is the highest capacity train system in North America and Caltrain is about to a be transformed once electrification comes online next year. So much opportunity.
I see. Thank you.
It IS tragic.