Willow Glen Resident

News

Glen Willows complex to include fire safety features in its remodel

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

The debris left at the Glen Willows Apartment complex from a devastating fire is finally being cleared away, and the structure is slowly returning to life.

The three-story 84-unit complex at 877 Willow St. displaced 240 Willow Glen renters after a March 2005 fire. Because the building is more than 40 years old, it predated current safety requirements and could have been renovated without bringing it up to current code.

But residents on Chabrant Way, including Diane Solomon and Stacy Scott, forwarded a petition to San Jose Fire Marshal David Schoonover, asking that he require the apartment's owners to install fire safety sprinklers, a fire-alarm system and emergency exit lighting as part of the rebuilding process.

"Our main concern is that everyone, from the tenants at the complex to the neighbors, all be safe," Scott said.

Schoonover met with the contractors and spoke to them about their plans right after the fire.

"I expressed to them my concern over whether they were willing to include the safety items that weren't required by previous codes but were clearly needed after the fire happened."

Don Campbell, superintendent for American Technologies American Restorations, the contractors for the apartment complex, said fire safety sprinklers will be installed and a fire-alarm system and emergency exit lights are being incorporated into the rebuild.

As a direct result of the petition, Schoonover said he has been working with the San Jose City Council to write an ordinance that would retroactively require older buildings to be brought up to current safety codes.

"We've been working on it for 15 months now," Schoonover said.

Fortunately, the Glen Willows Apartment contractors have taken an active approach.

In addition to the safety features, Campbell said the building will be modernized, and the facade will be cosmetically altered.

"It will go from a 1970s Brady Bunch to a more modern 2000," Campbell said.

Campbell estimates the rebuild will take between 14 to16 months. The contractor would like to have the project completed by early 2008.

Campbell said residents have been stopping by to ask about the project or to point out issues.

"One woman that walks her dog regularly came up to us twice to mention that the weeds from the building were creeping into her yard," Campbell said, "so we addressed the issue."

John Brad, the project manager for American Technologies American Restorations, said not all the design details have been finalized, but the aim of the contractors is to make the building safer.

"We want to blend better with the community," Brady said. "The intent is to encourage a higher class of residents. There's only so much you can do to a big stucco rectangle."