SAN JOSE — High-density housing could sprout on a choice site near San Jose’s lively Japantown neighborhood due to a preliminary effort to determine whether it’s suitable for such a development.
Five property owners are attempting to gauge the views of San Jose planners regarding the viability of a housing development on the site, which is at the corner of North First Street and East Taylor Street, city documents show.
“Five contiguous properties on the corner of North First Street and East Taylor Street in San Jose have been owned since 1979 by a limited liability partnership,” according to the preliminary plans on file with city officials. “The five partners are working together to sell the properties.”
The properties have addresses of 678, 684, 692 and 698 North First Street, and 20 East Taylor Street, the San Jose planning documents show.
Uchiban Properties owns the parcels. Uchiban Properties is located at the same 692 North First Street address where Ron Uchishiba operates a certified public accountant and management consultant business. Uchishiba couldn’t be immediately reached for comment.
“Given the contiguity of the five parcels, combining them would potentially create an opportunity for higher residential density or higher impact development at a key ‘gateway’ central to a transit urban village,” the planning documents state.
The five partners in the Uchiban Properties entity are attempting to gauge the feasibility of development on the combined site, which totals slightly more than a half acre. Another option would determine whether the five parcels could be developed individually.
The group of owners now operating as Uchiban Properties have owned the five sites since 1979. A hair salon, accountant and chiropractor operate in three of the five buildings. One of the buildings is a residence. The fifth building, at 20 East Taylor, has been unoccupied since a fire occurred at an unspecified date.
One possible challenge for development on the site: The structures at 692 and 698 North First Street are deemed to be a “historic resource” in the city’s database, according to the planning documents. The buildings are not, however, historic landmarks.
San Jose officials see this general area as a future transit village that could create a new gateway to the city’s downtown.
“These parcels are located in an important urban location and represent an opportunity for new development that would help the city achieve many of the pedestrian-oriented goals for the North 1st Street Transit Village,” the city planning documents state.
The property owners believe a variety of uses could be developed on the site, which in addition to its proximity to downtown San Jose, is also near the city’s airport, parks and the Guadalupe River waterway.
Plus, two light rail stations are within a five-minute walk of the North First and East Taylor intersection.
“Knowing in advance what options might be available will help us market the property in a way that is consistent with the city’s overall desire for high-intensity development,” the planning documents state.
