Willow Glen Resident

News

Funds OK'd for installation of streetlights in Gardner district

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

The Greater Gardner Coalition is closer to checking off one of its Top 10 neighborhood priorities.

At the San Jose City Council meeting on March 13, the city approved an additional $100,000 in redevelopment capital project funds that will be applied toward the installation of streetlights in the Gardner District and the Spartan Keys neighborhood, both areas part of San Jose Strong Neighborhood Initiative.

The additional funds will complete the heritage streetlight project, which ran out of funding, said San Jose SNI community activity worker Liz Ortiz.

"Things that didn't get in on the first round are being addressed with this new funding," Ortiz said.

In Gardner, the additional money will now fund the installation of two double-acorn heritage lights that serve as visual gateways to the neighborhood adjacent to the light rail station near Prevost Street, said San Jose department of public works senior engineer Paul Hsu.

In addition, a third heritage streetlight will also be installed to provide light for the recently completed pedestrian walkway that leads to Gardner Academy, Hsu said.

This will be the third phase of the W. Virginia Streetscape project. The first was awarded in 2005 and included new crosswalks with a faux red-brick look on W. Virginia Street and street grading.

In January 2006 the second phase of the streetscape project was completed. This included the installation of heritage streetlights along W. Virginia to Prevost Street and W. Virginia and Delmas Avenue to Willow Street.

Each heritage streetlight costs approximately $15,000, and more than 20 lights have been installed in Gardner and North Willow Glen, Ortiz said.

The Greater Gardner coalition includes three neighborhood associations: the North Willow Glen Neighborhood Association, Gregory Plaza and the Gardner Advisory Council.