NEXT WGNA MEETING & PRESENTATION
on WEDNESDAY 16 MAY 2018, 7:00 PM
Note: This is not on our usual day, due to our political forum that was just held May 10th.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING & URBAN LIVING SERIES: This coming meeting at the Willow Glen Public Library includes a presentation by Sandra Heredia of Charities Housing Development Corporation. She will share the insights on the Page Street Development in the W. San Carlos Urban Village Planning Area nearby Willow Glen. (See our prior speakers in this series, noted below or in the News section of our website)
TRAILS UPDATE: Additionally, we will get another Trails Update from Yves Zsutty, Trails Manager of the San Jose Parks, Recreation, & Neighborhood Services (PRNS) department. He will talk about the improvements around the Coe Avenue area, as well as points in the greater trails network.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE: Finally, we will engage a discussion on the underserved areas, and with particular regards to the long proposed Fire Station #37. Neighborhood Commissioners from District 6 are invited to speak and answer questions.
WGNA NOMINATING COMMITTEE RESULTS: Annual Board Meeting & Election for the 2018-2019 term.
Ed Rast, Chairperson, WGNA Nominating Committee, will receive ballots and announce results for the new WGNA Board term for the year, June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019; plus the Nominating Committee Term for the year, June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019.
See the Meeting Agenda here.
WGNA Board Election Ballot — Download & Print Document
The Election Ballot for Willow Glen Neighborhood Association's "Membership Elected – Nominating Committee Recommendations" is available for download and printing here, in PDF format.
For the eligibility to vote, see the WGNA Bylaws and Policies on our website, and particularly "ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP; Section 4. VOTING RIGHTS".
NOTE: We would need members to print the ballot and return it in person at the Election on WEDNESDAY 16 MAY 2018, 7:00 PM at the Willow Glen Public Library inside the Community Room, at 1157 Minnesota Avenue.
A separate date on Wednesday 16 May 2018 was created for the Annual Board Meeting & Election for the 2018-2019 term, whereas the candidates' Forum for the Santa Clara County Supervisor District 4 was hosted on Thursday 10 May 2018.
FORUM for SANTA CLARA COUNTY
re. SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 4 CANDIDATES
On Thursday 10 May 2018, WGNA hosted an electoral forum with seven of the candidates for the Santa Clara County position of District 4 Supervisor to replace outgoing Ken Yeager. The candidates invited to participate included Mike Alvarado, Jason Baker, Dominic Caserta, Susan Ellenberg, Maria Hernandez, Pierluigi Oliverio, and Don Rocha. The event occured at the Starlite Banquet Facility in Willow Glen/San Jose, 680 Minnesota Ave, 95125. The moderator was be Teresa Alvarado, the San Jose Director at Spur, a member-supported nonprofit organization that promotes good planning and good government in the San Francisco Bay Area.
NATIONAL SAFE ROUTES “BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY”
IN MAY 2018 IN WILLOW GLEN
Seasonally, every year, Bike to School returns in the spring, and Walk to School returns in autumn. This national event is organized locally by Stakeholders for a Safe Green Village (Facebook) in partnership with the National Center for Safe Routes to School (Facebook), and Willow Glen Neighborhood Association – WGNA (Facebook) is a regular co-sponsor.
BIKE TO SCHOOL occurs this May 2018.
Join children & adults around the world to celebrate the benefits of walking and bicycling:
— Bringing a sense of joy and fun!
— Encouraging children’s next stage of independence
— Promoting psychological well-being and alertness
— Fostering maturity and responsibility
— Creating habits of activity, empowerment and thinking differently
— Teaching children an awareness of what’s ahead “down the road.”
#BikeToSchool #SafeRoutes #StakeholdersSGV #WillowGlen #SanJose#WGNA
Series Presentations on "Urban Living" and Affordable Housing;
Join us for WGNA's Open House Board & Membership Meetings
Thursday 12 April 2018
WGNA's last Board & Membership meeting on Thursday 12 April 2018 included CORE Builders as the guest speakers on the topic of Affordable Housing projects in our area. This was part two of our "Urban Living" presentations. Paul Ring, V.P. of Development at Core Companies, was the presenter.
One of the major projects that was discussed by the guest speaker was the Laurel Grove Family Apartments, located adjacent to the San Jose Diridon Transit Center, a major transit hub with access to both regional and local transportation, as well as free shuttles to the downtown core. Laurel Grove is the first project in Santa Clara County to be awarded funding from the state's Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) loan and grant program, which is administered by the Strategic Growth Council and implemented by the California State Department of Housing & Community Development (HCD). Laurel Grove also received a loan from HCD's Transit Oriented Development program. This is the first housing project in San Jose to be Bay-Friendly Landscaping rated by ReScape California, a nonprofit organization that recognizes excellence in sustainable landscape design, construction and maintenance practices.
CORE Builders also presented the nearby Race Street and Tamien Station Housing projects. Race Street includes 206 units of 100% Affordable Housing in Midtown San Jose. Tamien Station Housing is a mixed Transit Oriented Development (TOD) with affordable units for seniors and veterans.
The guest also talked about other area projects, such as the Delmas Park Apartments, Agrihood, Sparq, etc.
Established in 1989, The Core Companies is a major builder in the San Francisco Bay area. Since its inception Core has developed more than 400 single-family homes, townhomes and condominiums, as well as 2,300 apartment units all within the South Bay region. In the last decade, Core has developed 17 properties with a total development cost of approximately $500 million.
Previously on March 8, 2018
Subject: Urban Living — Market Rate Housing; Midtown & Willow Glen; comprising aprox. 1,540 units total
Presenter: Konstantin Voronin, Republic Urban Properties, Inc.
Developing projects around the Willow Glen Planning Area:
- Meridian at Midtown, condominiums, approx. 220 units
- Ohlone Towers (3), condominiums, approx. 880 units
- Del Monte Park, soccer field, and dog park
-
Tamien Station Towers (2), approx. 440 Units
- A Transit Village, with daycare center
- Tamien Neighborhood Park
Letter to the City & Decision at City Hall —
WGNA Request to SJ City Council Districts 3 & 6
re. Safe Crossings on Bird Avenue
TO: Councilmember Raul Peralez (D3) & Dev Heinert Davis (D6)
SUBJECT: Improve Public Safety for primary school children attending Gardner Academy School on Illinois Avenue at Auzerais Avenue. Two major intersections along a California State Roadway — Bird Avenue — are unsafe crossings. First, there is Auzerais at Bird Avenue; and secondly, Virginia Street at Bird Avenue.
ACTION REQUESTED:
California State Senator Jim Beall, Jr. is requesting that the City of San Jose, Department of Transportation (DOT), conduct a traffic study of these two intersections. Once the studies are completed, the state of California will take on the necessary improvements to make these intersections safe for primary school children to cross. The timing of these two studies is very important.
Please get back to me within the next twelve working days with a resolution. That is, confirm a date and time when these two studies will be scheduled and expected to be completed. We would appreciate a copy of any correspondence sent to the San Jose DOT team, and their responses.
The Bird Avenue roadway has become increasingly busy, and with all the recent developments beginning at the north of the intersections, West San Carlos Street at Bird Avenue/ Montgomery Streets traffic will increase dramatically. The intersection of Auzerais Street, Bird Avenue and Interstate 280 (i.e., the on and off ramps) is already very dangerous.
See a JPEG version of WGNA's letter to the city here.
NOTICE: This item was be decided at the Rules and Open Government Committee in San Jose City Hall,
on the Agenda for 2/14/2018' item ROGC 18-094;
title "Autumn, Montgomery and Bird Corridor Study" (Peralez/Davis);
Joint Meeting for the Rules and Open Government Committee and Committee of the Whole;
1. Memorandum, 2. Letter from the Public
Notes from the Gardner Town Hall Meeting
Willow Glen Neighborhood Association hosted a special Town Hall Meeting in the Gardner Neighborhood on the second Thursday, 14 December 2017 at 7:00 pm.
- The Town Hall Meeting Agenda can be found here.
- The Town Hall Meeting Notes can be found here.
Welcome to WGNA online! — An introduction to the website
We've made it even easier for you to follow along with all of the latest events and happenings here in the Willow Glen area of San José, California.
If you're joining us for the first time, welcome! The Willow Glen Neighborhood Association was established in 1973. The organization has kept residents informed on a range of issues from traffic to neighborhood safety, all for the sole purpose of creating a stronger and more tightly-knit neighborhood for people of all ages to enjoy.
This website includes great resources for both residents and occasional visitors. Learn about the history of the area, see what types of businesses and other projects are in development, hear about events where you can meet fellow neighbors and get engaged on critical issues, and become a member to lend your voice to the neighborhood and contribute to the future of Willow Glen.
We organize special community events throughout the year, as well as monthly meetings that often feature guest speakers from around the city. We also work closely with other neighborhood organizations in the area that share our core values. There are numerous ways for you to get involved, and we'd love for you to join us.
Thanks for stopping by, and if there's anything else you'd like to see, don't hesitate to contact us!
