Willow Glen Resident

News

Neighbors support changes to Victorian house on Bird

By Victoria Gottlieb

Willow Glen neighbors had little to say about the transformation taking place at a home at 1070 Bird Ave.

The .29-acre property is home to a Victorian identified as a "contributing structure on the Historic Resources Inventory." A previous owner, who failed to obtain planning permits for the project, converted it into three living units with a detached five-car garage.

One unit was created in the basement of the historic residence at the front of the lot, and one unit was constructed above a five-car detached garage at the rear of the site.

New owner Norm Dreyer, who purchased the house a year ago, is requesting the property be rezoned and appealing for permits to retain the three living units.

The San Jose Planning Department, however, is going to press the owner to restore the basement, which was converted to one of the living units.

The planning department will allow Dreyer to maintain the existing unit over the garage. The site, however, would still require a rezoning, which would enable it to become a multi-unit dwelling.

The project could go before the planning commission sometime in early August for a decision on whether the property could be divided into two or three units.

Dreyer remains optimistic about his chances of maintaining three units on the property.

Several weeks ago, he sent out dozens of letters to members of the community about the property and his desire to retain the three-unit configuration. He received 11 responses, all supporting his project.