Affordable-homes complex may sprout near busy church
Hundreds of low-cost units are being planned near Curtner light rail station
SAN JOSE >> Hundreds of affordable homes could rise next to a busy church in south San Jose, according to plans being pondered by city officials.
The residences that are being planned would be offered to both families and seniors and would be a few blocks from the Curtner light rail station.
“This project proposes the development of family affordable and senior housing units,” according to an introductory section for the preliminary proposal filed with San Jose planners.
The new affordable homes project is being planned at 2315 Canoas Garden Ave. in San Jose. That’s a site near the interchange of State
Route 87 and Curtner Avenue, the city planning documents show.
The development site is also right next to the Cathedral of Faith, a Christian church that is listed as a United States megachurch on Wikipedia.
The homes would be built on a portion of the church’s property that now is a parking lot that serves the existing complex.
The development site is part of a 13.4-acre parcel that is owned by Friendly Bible Church Inc., according to records on file with the Santa Clara County Assessor’s Office. The Cathedral of Faith church, two school facilities, and a day care center would remain if the homes are approved and built, the plans show.
Sand Hill Property Co. filed the development proposal. The plans on file with the city are preliminary and are being circulated at San Jose City Hall to obtain reactions and guidance from municipal planners.
“It’s great to see projects like Canoas get submitted,” said Bob Staedler, principal executive with Silicon Valley Synergy, a land-use consultancy.
The proposal calls for two residential buildings, each five stories high. The buildings would contain a community room on each level.
One of the buildings would consist of affordable homes for families. The other building would contain affordable homes for seniors.
The residences in the project would consist of studios as well as 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom units.
The complex would include a courtyard, according to the plans on file.
Just a few months ago, in February, as many as 400 homes, including some units that would be affordable, were proposed for a site next to the Scottish Rite Center at 2455 Masonic Drive in San Jose. Those plans were early and preliminary.
“Affordable units need to be dispersed throughout the city,” Staedler said. “Hopefully, this becomes a trend for delivering affordable housing projects.”