San Jose rejects 135 apartments
Would replace an old office building that's been abandoned for years
San Jose officials deny construction of proposed 17-story apartment complex. Vicente Vera, San Jose Spotlight, June 2025.
The San Jose City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to deny plans to construct 135 homes and 15,000 square feet of commercial retail space at 826 N. Winchester Blvd. Neighborhood residents who rallied against the project included Lindy Hayes -- daughter of former Mayor Janet Grey Hayes. Longtime homeowners told city officials they don't want a giant apartment building disrupting their neighborhood, even when representatives for developer VCI Companies said they could shrink the project down to 11 stories.
"We need housing of all types and for all income levels. However, at its core, the proposed project was inconsistent with San Jose's general plan and was outsized for the Cory neighborhood," District 6 Councilmember Michael Mulcahy told San Jose Spotlight.
VCI Companies representative Kelly Erardi said the property in question had been abandoned for five years before they picked it up.
"We are extremely grateful to the city council for preserving the vibrancy of our neighborhood in this way," Lindy Hayes told San Jose Spotlight.
An earlier story notes:
Multiple developers have eyed improvements to the .6-acre office property at 826 N. Winchester Blvd., which is riddled with graffiti, and has been the site of multiple fires and criminal activity.
Neighbors call high-rise proposal north of Santana Row “a monstrosity.” Devan Patel, Bay Area News Group, December 2024. “
Meanwhile:
More
17-Story Tower Proposed for 826 North Winchester Boulevard, San Jose. Andrew Nelson, SF YIMBY, February 2024.
West San Jose residents fight apartment complex in neighborhood. Vicente Vera, San Jose Spotlight, May 2025.
CEQA documents for the project.