When Willow Glen residents think of high-rises, they think of downtown. But all that's going to change next month, when in all likelihood the city council will approve zoning for twin 11-story towers on Alma Street, at the eastern edge of Willow Glen. These will be the tallest all-residential buildings in San Jose, the first part of a new generation of high-density development that will look down upon North, South and West San Jose neighborhoods.

With little fanfare or public awareness, the plan for San Jose changed two years ago to allow 120-foot-tall buildings outside of downtown, at sites within 2,000 feet of transit stops.

While placing high-density housing near light rail is reasonable, putting skyscrapers there is not. The Alma project puts two modern, 11-story high-rises directly across the street from turn-of-the-century bungalows. A companion tower on Alma at Lelong will look down into east Willow Glen backyards. More high-rises will follow, shadowing homes within a half-mile of the Fruitdale and Curtner light rail stops.

Many people in Willow Glen believe that skyscrapers belong in downtown, not surrounding our neighborhood. If the Alma project passes its public hearing at city hall on July 23, it will change the way all of us look at the Santa Clara Valley--literally.

—Ken Eklund, Fuller Avenue