Ted and Nancy Biagini, the former owners of Lincoln Avenue's Casa Casa for more than a decade before selling it in March, also own 1669 Lincoln Ave. with their son-in-law Marc Palacio.

Palacio, a Palm Haven resident and custom homebuilder, wants to build four two-story homes on a 0.6-acre lot.

The project would be known as the Lincoln Glen Custom Estates.

Palacio and the family hired Willow Glen-based JCA Architects to design the project. Each home would range in size from 2,600 to 2,800 square feet and would have its own unique architectural design. The homes would be designed to fit in with the architectural diversity throughout the neighborhood. The project would include a farmhouse, shingle, prairie and Spanish-style home.

"What we're going to do is try to put up four really nice homes," Biagini told residents at an Aug. 23 community meeting.

Many of residents praised Biagini and Palacio for the tasteful design. Palacio said the family originally thought of saving the duplex, but decided to tear it down after finding it termite-ridden and lacking a solid foundation.

JCA Architects senior architect Kelly Simcox said the family was adamant about creating a development that would fit into the neighborhood.

The four houses will be situated off a private street, which will be part of the development plans presented to the planning commission if rezoning is approved.

The street will be tree-lined to create a tree canopy, which is one of Willow Glen's charms, Simcox said.

Each home will have four bedrooms and 2 1/2 or more baths. All the homes will have porches and an attached two-car garage. There will also be five additional designated parking spaces. The Spanish-style home, at the rear of the property, will have a detached single-car garage.

"We really wanted to put in a neighborhood street with a feel that belongs in Willow Glen," Simcox said.

Several residents questioned whether the private street would increase traffic on Lincoln Avenue. JCA Architects principal architect Jeanette Coran said the street is 20 feet wide, similar to most commercial lots, and would be sufficient to allow cars to drive in and out without causing a backup on to Lincoln Avenue.

The homes would be constructed between a vacant lot to the north and Gerry Furman's property, which borders the project to the south. The private road is currently designed on the north side of the project. Furman requested that the developer move the project's private road to the south of the property, enabling homes to be set back further from his backyard. Furman said the project's two-story homes would peer directly into his backyard as currently proposed.

"If these homes are built, my life is going to be a TV for these houses," Furman said.

The homes are set back 20 feet from Furman's property. By moving the private road to the south of the development, the distance between the homes and Furman's property would increase to at least 30 feet.

Biagini said the San Jose Planning Department requested the private road be located to north because any future project on the vacant lot could incorporate the expansion of the street.

However, Biagini and Palacio said they are open to moving the street for Furman's privacy if they receive permission from the city.

Before the project can be approved for construction it will have to be approved for rezoning--from residential to planned development-- by the city, according to San Jose planner Ed Schreiner.

Only then can the developer begin to finalize the conceptual designs. The rezoning request could come before the San Jose Planning Commission within the next two months.

Palacio said he and his wife, Katie, plan to move into one of the homes once they are built.

"We're not the big, bad developer," he said. "I like to build things that fit."