1
Willow Glen
Neighborhood
Association
P. O. Box
7706,
San Jose
CA 95150
408/294-WGNA
To: Honorable Mayor January
21, 2010
Council member Pierluigi
Oliverio
Council members
City of San Jose, 200 East Santa Clara Street
San Jose, California 95113
Subj: Public hearing City Council
January 26,2010 Item 11.3
Re: ITEM # PDC09-016-
District 6 Re-zoning real property
located at/on the southeast corner Lincoln Ave. and Willow
St.
Willow Glen Neighborhood Association is pleased to support the proposed
development at the southeast corner of Willow Street and Lincoln Avenue. We
believe this project is an attractive and welcome addition to the economic,
cultural and architectural fabric of the Avenue and our Main Street business
district. Building on the historic character of the area and the diverse
architectural styles on the Avenue that integrate with our residents’ homes,
the plan will add variety and richness to the area while underscoring the
small-town village feel that gives us our unique sense of place.
Endorsement factors include the developer’s:
willingness to contribute
property at mid-block for a bus duck-out, improving automotive safety and
creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment;
contribution of project property to establish a large plaza with streetscape improvements
at the corner of Willow and Lincoln, which will encourage neighborhood
socialization;
planned mix of offices,
retail and restaurants, which will encourage residents to patronize local
businesses and provide local employment within walking distance or by public
transportation.
Our community appreciates the
architect’s incorporation of the existing Willow Street Pizza building features
by setting back the upper level offices in order to maintain the original
Spanish Revival style detail with terra cotta barrel mission tiles and including
another outdoor setback dining patio for the Willow Street patrons to enjoy.
We applaud the provision of 17-20 bike racks on the site in addition
to showers, as this will encourage employees to bicycle to work. Combining this
with the construction of a parking deck in the rear of the complex, competition
for on street parking will be greatly reduced. Expanding the sidewalks
consistent with adjacent properties Peet’s Coffee,
Noah’s Bagels and JambaJuice, will allow patrons to
enjoy socializing at the outdoor tables in this area.
It is important to recognize the submission of the plan as a certified
very green LEED
registered project, shooting for LEED Silver or Gold Award status. It is consistent
with LEED policies by paying special attention to energy usage/management in
addition to incorporating the use of the four“R” building
materials – recycled, regional, renewable – and focusing on indoor air quality,
water utilization and management.
We believe this project will revitalize our historical,
traditional business district and the scale and mass of the proposed building
are appropriate to our unique and welcoming neighborhood. Completion of the
plan will create a more pedestrian-friendly environment, allow our business
district to thrive and change according the community’s needs and provide
environmental, economic, social and health benefits
for all.
Sincerely,
Ed Rast, President
Willow Glen Neighborhood Association
cc: Joseph Horwedel, Director, Planning,
Building and Code Enforcement
Office of the City Clerk, San Jose, CA cityclerk@sanjoseca.gov