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Winchester Boulevard storefronts get facade improvements

By Tiffany Carney

The seasons are changing, and with the help of the San Jose Redevelopment Agency, so are the storefronts on Winchester Boulevard.

Winchester Boulevard is a bustling commercial district, which was adopted by the RDA as a redevelopment project area in 2002.

The RDA is a public, nonprofit organization established in 1956 by the city of San Jose. The city council serves as the agency's board of directors.

Currently, the plans to revitalize Winchester Boulevard include creating landscaped median islands from Moorpark Avenue to Impala Drive, the planting of trees, sidewalk improvements, more pedestrian lighting, distinctive street banners and façade improvements to several properties. Most of these projects have already taken place, with the exception of the façade improvements, which are ongoing.

"We are extremely gratified with the new median and sidewalk street trees on Winchester the redevelopment agency designed and funded," says Richard Keit, the agency's director of neighborhood and business development.

Keit said the median and sidewalk trees run from Interstate 280 to the city boundary at Impala Drive. The street trees are yarwood sycamores, while the trees on the medians are believed to be olive trees (not fruit-bearing) and crepe myrtle trees.

The neighborhood and business development program oversees the architectural and financial decisions made for improvements. To date, the RDA has invested $2.3 million in the Winchester Boulevard district.

As part of the Façade Improvement Program, "a typical storefront would receive $30,000 from the agency with only a $5,000 match from the owner and/or tenant," Keit says.

When a business accepts the FIP funds, an agreement is made. The RDA assists in the cost of the renovation, but the owner and/or tenant must keep the property in good condition and cannot make any changes to the exterior for seven years without RDA approval. Another part of the agreement requires that "the rent cannot be raised an aggregate of more than 5 percent over a two-year period," Keit says.

Rick Gerhardt, membership development manager with the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, says, "Any changes that are architectural to the beautification of Winchester are going to be a great help to the business community and the people that live in that area."

Gerhardt, who serves as a liaison to the Winchester Business Association, also believes the FIP will help the many small businesses that can be found on Winchester Boulevard.

The Taqueria Eduardo building behind McDonald's, which also includes F&W Liquors and Beauty Hut, is one of the newly renovated buildings. The project was completed two years ago.

As part of that agreement, the RDA funded and created new signage, exterior paint, a new awning and a trellis on the side of the building, says Mike McPherson, the development officer for this division.

Angie's Pizza, at 1535 S. Winchester Blvd., also embraced the idea of a new look. It has agreed to upgrade its façade with the help of the RDA, which is paying for new paint, signage and awnings. But Angie's Pizza didn't stop there; it's also doing some of its own renovations.

"I believe they are doing some replacement of windows and parapet work, which is the extension of the roof," Keit says.

At this time, the building is under construction and both projects, the one by the owner and by the RDA, will be completed within the first quarter of next year.

Although some businesses were excited about the renovation, some were not so enthusiastic.

The Mexican restaurant El Titanic, at 1505 S. Winchester Blvd., declined to participate in the FIP. The other three businesses that share the building were willing to consider the idea, but El Titanic was opposed.

One block north at 1462 S. Winchester Blvd. at David Avenue is Little Chef Chinese Fast Food, and across David Avenue at 1442 S. Winchester Blvd. is the family-owned Mustang Press that shares a building with 7-Eleven and Escandalo Latino Beauty Salon. A couple of years ago, renovations were up for discussion, but no decisions have been made.

Dee Lyn Fields, the owner of Mustang Press, says she isn't opposed to the idea of a storefront upgrade and thinks it is great other businesses are participating in the FIP.

Keit says the RDA hasn't spoken with the owners in more than a year but would be willing to revisit the issue, especially if the two businesses are interested in façade improvements.