Posted on: June 3, 2025
Source: East Bay Times; Author: George Avalos
About 100 homes would sprout in Willow Glen district
90-unit affordable housing development planned for a San Jose site with addresses of 520 and 544 West Alma Avenue in the Willow Glen district, concept.
SAN JOSE — An affordable housing project that would bring about 100 units to the site of the shuttered Agave Sports Bar in San Jose’s Willow Glen district passed a key milestone after a developer purchased the property.
Resources for Community Development, acting through an affiliate, paid $5.25 million to buy parcels with addresses of 520 and 544 West Alma Ave., according to documents filed on Monday with the Santa Clara County Recorder’s Office.
Elevated view of a 90-unit affordable housing development proposed on a site with addresses of 520 and 544 West Alma Avenue in San Jose’s Willow Glen district, concept.
The sellers were family trusts headed up by Irvine-based Lisa Blickenstaff, Steve Plevin and Erica Gilman.
With a specialty in affordable housing, Resources for Community Development also landed a $5.25 million loan from Housing Trust Silicon Valley to cover the purchase price, county records show.
Resources for Community Development has proposed a 90-unit project at the West Alma site, which is near the Guadalupe River, according to city and county public documents.
“The proposed housing development will take advantage of its location next to the wonderful natural asset of the Guadalupe River,” project plans state.
It would consist of 89 affordable apartments and a manager’s unit. Among the affordable units, 68 would be set aside for low-income residents and 21 would be set aside for very-low-income residents, property records show.
Berkeley-based Resources for Community Development aims to create extensive landscaping leading from the second-level open space to the banks of the river – an element crafted to link the apartment complex with its natural features.
“This development will enhance and restore the areas adjacent to the Guadalupe River so that they become assets to this project as well as the neighborhood in a way that was absent in the previous surrounding developments,” project plans state.
The homes would be contained within a five-story apartment building on floors two through five. The ground floor would include offices and amenity spaces, as well as parking, according to city planning documents.
“The building will also include amenities such as a large community room, a large outdoor courtyard, and laundry facilities to serve the residents and their guests,” plans state.
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