The proposed site is enclosed by Foxworthy Avenue, Rubino Drive and the Guadalupe River.

The developer, Palo Alto­based Summerhill Homes, is well-known for building in prime real estate areas around the Bay Area and in Silicon Valley. The project's construction is expected to start within two weeks and be completed within a year.

The development is in conformance with the city's overall General Plan designation of a medium-density residential area with 15.9 dwelling units per acre over the 5.8­acre site.

The purchase price of the land, which was previously owned by the Rubino family, was not disclosed.

Residents interviewed by the Willow Glen Resident say they welcome the development because it will serve as a buffer between the 950 single-family attached homes to the north and east of the property and the auto dealers on Capitol Expressway.

"I like the fact that there is going to be something between the car dealers and the residential areas," said Rick Jacobi, 37, who lives on Nattinger Court. "In general, what makes a neighborhood more attractive is that the neighborhood is surrounded by other homes. The project might also help increase the value of my property."

Although he is concerned about the additional traffic the new housing development might generate, Jacobi said he believes congestion on Foxworthy Avenue will be limited to morning commute hours.

Other neighbors say the project will create a neighborhood feeling.

"I am just happy that it's not going to be another car dealer," said Lori Manning, 31. From the window of her house she can see the huge blue and white signs of Friendly Ford. "The car dealers make the neighborhood so impersonal. With the new houses, our neighborhood will be more like a neighborhood."

Jennifer Brown, 37, whose house faces the proposed development project, said she too is positive about the development because it will block the view of Capitol Expressway and the auto dealers.

"It will be aesthetically more pleasing," she said.

The development site was bisected from the larger residential area to the north because of a rezoning project approved in 1998 to facilitate the connection between Foxworthy and Pearl avenues. Although it was designated as an area to store automobiles for the anticipated expansion of the nearby car dealers, the lot has been vacant.

The single-family detached units will face either a common open space or two new public cul-de-sac streets that will branch off Foxworthy Avenue. Old Hillsdale Avenue, which functions as a private driveway providing access to the rear area of four existing automobile dealerships, will be vacated to erect a wall separating the auto dealers from the residential park.

The houses will exhibit many features of garden townhouses. For example, garages will be accessed from an alley, and the front porches or unit entrances will be oriented on the opposite side of the unit facing a street or a shared open space. The houses will range in size from about 1,499 to 1,739 square feet, with three or four bedrooms and a two-car garage.

Although the units are similar to townhouses in appearance, density and layout, the "detached townhouses" actually have about six feet of distance between them. They will be the first ones of their kind to be built in San Jose.

Roger Menard, president and chief executive officer of Summerhill Homes, said he believes the project will sell well because of its price and location.

"The price is good for a single-family detached house," Menard said. "And the houses are right on the border of Willow Glen. People think Willow Glen is an upscale community and like to be identified with it."

But since the property's proximity to auto dealers, the developer is required to inform potential buyers of possible problems related to the location, including lighting and noise from the nearby businesses.

"We have been very creative in designing this property," Menard said. "I hope with our land design, all these concerns will be mitigated."