570 El Camino Real #150-449 Redwood City, CA. 94063

Future San Jose BART station sparks plans for new homes

1627303909573

Future San Jose BART station sparks plans for new homes

SAN JOSE — Hundreds of homes, including some that would be affordable, are being planned for a site near a future BART station that is slated to be opened east of downtown San Jose.

The residential development would sprout on a property at 70 N. 27th St. in San Jose, which is about a five-minute walk from the anticipated location of the 28th Street/Little Portugal BART station just north of East Santa Clara Street.

“We are pleased to submit a preliminary application to develop a 1.164 gross acre site at 70-80 N. 27th St. in San Jose into a high-density, transit-supportive multi-family rental project,” Melanie Griswold, an attorney for the project applicant, wrote in a letter to city officials regarding the preliminary proposal.

The developer, which wasn’t identified, intends to demolish an existing building on the project site.

“We have a preliminary proposal for 205 residential units right now,” said Jerry Strangis, a Bay Area real estate executive and land consultant who is representing the project’s developer.

The preliminary proposal envisions 179 studios and 26 one-bedroom units.

“This area is going to change dramatically with the new BART station,” Strangis said.

The building that would be bulldozed contains a supplier of floral arrangements, table decorations, and other items for special events such as weddings. A Latin fitness dance studio also is located in the North 27th Street building. The building totals 21,200 square feet.

Up to 5% of the apartments would be set aside for very low-income renters, city planning documents show. Up to 10% would be set aside for low-income renters, according to the city files.

The building would total five stories. A sixth level would be underground.

Some of the ground floor in the mixed-use development would consist of shop or restaurant spaces.

“We are trying to figure out how much commercial space will be needed for the project,” Strangis said.

This proposed project would sprout in a location that is envisioned as a major hub for development.

“It’s adjacent to the new BART station that will be next to the Five Wounds Church,” Strangis said.

This development and potentially other projects would cluster around the proposed BART station, according to a strategy document circulated by the Valley Transportation Authority.

“The city of San Jose, VTA, and their partners have the chance to transform the 28th Street/Little Portugal BART Station area into a transit-oriented community where people want to live, work, and play,” according to the transit authority’s document.

It’s possible that the creation of homes, offices, shops, and restaurants would allow for about 3.6 million square feet of new development in the 28th Street/Little Portugal Station area, according to the transit agency’s document.

“28th Street/Little Portugal sits at a pivotal moment in its development story,” the VTA stated. “The coming of BART will open a new chapter. Transit-served locations in Santa Clara County are increasingly attracting new development and higher property values.”

City and transit officials believe the choice location of the Little Portugal area near the corner of East Santa Clara Street and North 28th Street means it’s crucial to ensure that projects in the station vicinity are crafted properly.

“It truly is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” the VTA strategy documents stated.

Full Article by George Avalos: https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/07/26/new-homes-plans-future-san-jose-bart-station-site-real-estate-develop/