SAN JOSE — A big San Jose housing development with more than 500 units is making progress at City Hall with the filing of detailed plans for the look and shape of the two-building project.
The residential complex is proposed for 3896 Stevens Creek Boulevard in western San Jose, documents on file with city planners show.
532-unit apartment complex consisting of two buildings at 3896 Stevens Creek Boulevard in San Jose, elevated view, concept. (TCA Architects)
Street-level view of a 532-unit apartment complex consisting of two buildings at 3896 Stevens Creek Boulevard in San Jose, concept. (TCA Architects)
The project would be built at the corner of Stevens Creek Boulevard and Saratoga Avenue near San Jose’s mega commercial hubs of Westfield Valley Fair and Santana Row, along with a regional auto row.
A few small buildings now occupy the 4.7-acre property where the project would sprout. Hokkaido Buffet, a restaurant, is among the tenants on the site.
Elevated view of a 532-unit apartment complex consisting of two buildings at 3896 Stevens Creek Boulevard in San Jose, concept. (TCA Architects)
Ground-level view of a 532-unit, two-building apartment complex at 3896 Stevens Creek Boulevard in San Jose, concept. (TCA Architects)
At one point, the project’s developer, Holland Partners, had envisioned a massive office, retail and fitness complex on the property. Holland scrapped those plans.
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“The site … was previously entitled for an 882,000-square-foot office and retail redevelopment which, due to changes in market conditions, was unable to move forward,” Holland Partners stated in its prior filings with the city.
Sky-high building vacancies, slumping rents and widening loan delinquencies have coalesced to force owners of Bay Area office buildings to navigate a forbidding economic landscape.
Despite the grim challenges, however, some signs such as a flurry of tech industry lease deals in late 2024 have emerged to point to brighter conditions for the region’s office sector.
As for the Stevens Creek Boulevard housing development, the developer has sketched out a vision of two eight-story buildings with a total of 532 apartments.
One of the buildings would contain 256 units, the plans show. The other building would have 276 units, according to the proposal.
The proposal envisions a mix of studios and one- and two-bedroom units.
“Private balconies are proposed for 30% of the units,” the development plans state.
About 13,800 square feet of retail would be included in the development. Some retail space would be on the ground floor of each building.
“Approximately 25,000 square feet of amenity space will be included” in the project, the proposal states. Both buildings would contain a fitness center, co-working space, clubroom and a lobby, the project plans show.
Some of the units are expected to be affordable residences, the proposal indicates.
“The project is seeking a State Density Bonus for providing below-market-rate units,” the latest development plans state.
Earlier versions had suggested that 5% of the units would be offered to very low-income residents.
The two buildings would be separated sufficiently to allow open space between them.
Each building would contain a courtyard and pool area, according to the development plans.
“There will be common open space provided via a public corner plaza and paseo, and on the fourth floor,” the developer states in the project plans.
The development site is within an area that is influenced by a special urban village vision crafted by San Jose city officials.
‘Holland and the design team believe the proposal meets the intent of the Stevens Creek Urban Village Plan by significantly enhancing the pedestrian experience along the Stevens Creek and Saratoga frontages and creating new public gathering spaces that will give residents and visitors reasons to linger,” Holland stated in an overview letter regarding the project.
