KCR eyes seven-story apartment complex in San Jose

KCR Development aims to build a 206-unit apartment complex south of Downtown San Jose over strong neighborhood opposition.

The Cupertino-based developer has filed plans to build the seven-story building at 1050 St. Elizabeth Drive in Willow Glen, the San Jose Mercury News reported. It would replace a 30,000-square-foot former assisted living facility.

The project got a green light from the city’s planning director, according to Bay City News. If approved, construction could begin early next year and take two years. 

“This will provide high-density housing in an area that is centrally located in San Jose,” Erik Schoennauer, a land-use consultant for KCR, said.

The 2.2-acre property north of Los Gatos Creek is owned by KCR, operating as Evershine XVII, which bought the site in 2013 for $5.8 million, Schoennauer told reporters.  In 2016, KCR leased the two-story building to Somerset Senior Living for a fixed term that ended last year, when the facility closed.

Plans call for a 92-foot-tall Cape Cod blue-and-white complex, with inset balconies and yellow, brown and green accents. 

The apartment complex would have five stories of apartments atop two stories of parking for 311 cars, 52 motorcycles and 73 bicycles.

The project, designed by DNA Design and Architecture, would include a courtyard, a series of outdoor decks, plus a clubhouse, fitness center, lounge, workshop, pet wash, storage and media/game rooms.

Schoennauer said the proposal will add needed housing to the area and conforms with San Jose zoning. “This project is exactly what the city’s general plan wants for this site,” he said.

Some neighbors don’t agree. Some said the Fruitdale light rail stop a half mile away is too far to be used by tenants of the proposed complex. Others said the building’s height would clash with the quiet neighborhood, while its renters would add more traffic and disrupt their quality of life.

“Seven stories? Way out of character for Willow Glen,” Barbara Black said in a letter to the city. “Put that building downtown where we can at least walk everywhere or take transit.”

Diane Farone, who lives in nearby condominiums known as Arbor Glen 2, said the project would impact local housing values.

“This is very bad news,” Farone said in another letter. “I’m on the board at Arbor Glen 2 and we are very opposed to this. It will ruin the look of the neighborhood and lower our property values. The surrounding infrastructure does not have the capacity for this.”

— Dana Bartholomew