Rose Garden Resident

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Developers optimistic about 250 housing units off Stockton

By Mary Gottschalk

Developers are going forward with plans to place a 250-unit residential complex to be called Morrison Park Homes on a 4.4-acre site along Stockton Avenue pending city approval to rezone the area to allow planned development.

Erik Schoennauer, representing the San Mateo-based developer, told approximately one dozen residents at a Nov. 27 community rezoning meeting that Morrison Park Homes will include 250 units in eight buildings on property bounded by Stockton Avenue, W. Julian Street, N. Morrison Avenue and Cinnabar Street.

The meeting was held inside a drafty warehouse, one of several buildings and auto shops that will be demolished if the property is rezoned from its current light industrial designation.

Units will range from one to four bedrooms, and buildings will be three to four stories. The highest point will be 65 feet above street level.

Plans also call for an interior courtyard with a swimming pool and hot tub for residents' use, as well as sidewalks and trees around the perimeter.

"This will be an urban-style development with parking hidden," Schoennauer said.

Parking will be in single garages as part of some units, at street level within the development and in underground podium lots for a total of 413 spaces.

When asked if that was sufficient parking for residents and visitors, Schoennauer said the number of spaces is in accordance with the city of San Jose's requirements. He also pointed out the proposed development is near Diridon Station, a major transit hub.

Told the podium parking at nearby Cinnabar Commons was not attractive, Schoennauer replied, "Our project will be better designed than Cinnabar Commons."

In fact, he said, the artist's renderings he showed to the group aren't final.

"We want it to be vintage in style, rather than modern," he said.

Schoennauer said with city hearings ahead and then plan approvals, he doesn't expect construction to start until late 2007, adding that completion could take as long as 2 1/2 years.

Asked about prices, Schoennauer said, "all units will be for sale at market rate."

He said he couldn't predict what market prices would be then, but if the units were available today, he said the range would be from $400,000 to $700,000.

The next step, said Lesley Xavier, project manager for the planning department, will be a public hearing by the planning commission.

Anyone with questions or comments on the proposed rezoning can contact Xavier at 408.535.7852.