SAN JOSE — Nearly 100 affordable homes could replace a shuttered restaurant perched on the site of the banks of a river in San Jose’s bustling Willow Glen district, documents on file with city officials show.
The plans envision a housing development on two parcels with addresses of 520 and 544 West Alma Avenue in the Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose, according to the planning records.
91-unit affordable housing development planned for a San Jose site with addresses of 520 and 544 West Alma Avenue in the Willow Glen district, concept. (Van Meter Williams Pollack)
The project would produce 91 units near the interchange of Highway 87 and Alma Avenue.
“544 West Alma is a 100% affordable housing development that will serve low-income families,” the preliminary plans being floated at San Jose City Hall show.
91-unit affordable housing development planned at 520 and 544 West Alma Avenue in the Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose, concept. (Van Meter Williams Pollack)
The affordable homes would be contained within a five-story apartment building. The housing units would be located on floors two through five. The ground floor would include offices and amenities spaces, as well as parking.
“The building will also include amenities such as a large community room, a large outdoor courtyard and laundry facilities to serve the residents and their guests,”
The courtyard, open spaces and gathering areas would be located on the second level of the apartment building.
“The site at 544 West Alma Avenue encompasses two parcels totaling 1.15 acres and is currently occupied by an abandoned restaurant and its large surface parking lot,” according to the project plans.
The Guadalupe River is located on the eastern boundary of the development site.
“The proposed housing development will take advantage of its location next to the wonderful natural asset of the Guadalupe River and enhance and improve the current condition,” the project plans state.
Berkeley-based Resources for Community Development, a real estate firm that specializes in affordable housing development, is heading up the project.
Lisa Blickenstaff, based in Irvine, owns the property, documents on file with the Santa Clara County Assessor’s Office show.
The parcel’s value was $132,700 in early 2023, according to the county real estate records.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether Resources for Community Development intends to buy the property at some point.
In multiple instances, however, the real estate firm has bought potential development sites.
In 2021, an affiliate controlled by Resources for Community Development bought a property at 797 South Almaden Avenue next to West Virginia Street in San Jose.
Resources for Community Development has proposed the development of 99 affordable apartments on the 797 South Almaden site.
On the site at 520 and 544 West Alma, the developer aims to create extensive landscaping leading from the second-level open space to the banks of the nearby Guadalupe River.
This project element was crafted to smoothly link the apartment complex with the river’s natural features.
“This development will enhance and restore the areas adjacent to the Guadalupe River so that they become assets to this project as well as the neighborhood in a way that was absent in the previous surrounding developments,” the project plans state.
