Willow Glen Resident
News
First covenant sale will mean development of nine homes
By Mayra Flores De Marcotte
Neighbors are praying that the First Covenant Church sale goes through with amazing grace.
The1.3-acre site has been on the market since last year and is expected to sell for between $3.5 million and $5.5 million to Los Gatos-based developer McCarthy Land. But the sale is contingent upon the San Jose Planning Department approving a special use permit that would allow the developer to demolish the 24,000-square-foot church and its parking lot.
The developer's representative, Rich McCarthy, said the proposal covers the construction of nine single-family homes on the church site located at 790 Coe Ave. The homes will be constructed at the corner of Coe Avenue and Riverside Drive and continue along Broadway Avenue in the Palm Haven neighborhood of Willow Glen.
The homes will be configured as two-story family residences with three models ranging from 2,200 to 2,900 square feet. The homes will be built in three different styles: Craftsman, prairie and English. The smaller homes will face Riverside Drive and the larger homes will face Broadway Avenue.
Along with the demolition, the developer has also filed for a lot subdivision to divide the two parcels at the corner of Coe Avenue and Riverside Drive into three lots.
San Jose Public Works will decide the request. There is no public hearing because the property is already zoned for single-family medium to low-density housing and divided into eight existing lots.
"Single family homes are allowed by right," San Jose planner Avril Baty said.
Neighbors met with the developer and Baty on Aug. 21 to discuss the proposed project and voice their concerns about
privacy, architectural style and parking issues.
McCarthy's willingness to listen to neighbors' concerns and take notes was a good sign, said Palm Haven resident Mike Borbely after the meeting.
"They did overlook some things," Borbely said, "like spacing, shading and the types of windows and doors they will use, but they took these ideas and already were making changes to their design."
He told McCarthy at the meeting that Palm Haven is a unique community in Willow Glen.
"The average home is worth $1.5 million," Borbely said. "People that want to buy homes in this area pay for these architectural elements."
Palm Haven residents Clego Genezla and wife Darlene live adjacent to the property on Riverside Drive and agree with Borbely.
"There was a person here tonight that made the point of quality versus square footage," Genezla said. "He had the right idea. People pay to live in this area for the atmosphere and the people, not the size of their home."
In addition, Genezla was concerned the project would come too close to his property. However, McCarthy said there would be a total of eight feet between the two homes.
"They seem to be quality builders," Genezla said. "I think they will do good."
The developer was also receptive to changes that would retain the flavor of the neighborhood and afford residents greater privacy.
"Our hope is to build quality homes and have them be a welcomed addition and hopefully raise property values," McCarthy said. "You guys will be proud of the project."
McCarthy said demolition of the site, once approved, would take 30 days to complete. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin next spring and completed by the end of the year.
Some neighbors had concerns about noise and construction vehicles.
McCarthy reassured neighbors there would be no construction trucks parked along the residential streets. All construction vehicles would be parked onsite.
This housing project will replace First Covenant Church, a building that has stood at 790 Coe Ave. for five decades. The church's congregation opted to sell the church due to declining enrollment, the Rev. Kevin Budd said. The church currently rents space at Willow Glen Middle School's Little Theater for Sunday services.
McCarthy Land Co. was not the only interested buyer, said Budd.
Several churches had looked at the Coe Avenue site, but found the building needed work and parking was inadequate, he said.
After the sale is finalized, 45 percent of the proceeds will be used to establish a new church facility for First Covenant Church and 45 percent will be used to begin new churches in Silicon Valley, Budd said. The remaining 10 percent, based on the Christian tenet of tithing, will be used to help the less fortunate.
The project will go before the San Jose planning director on Sept. 19, at 9 a.m. in City Hall at 200 E Santa Clara St.
