Stevens Creek Promenade
Approved
4300 Stevens Creek Boulevard, San Jose, CA 95129
Project Overview
• Project Type: Hotel + Retail + Market-rate Housing + Affordable Housing
• Owner/Developer: Miramar Capital
• Presented to our members: August 2022
Catalyze SV evaluates project sustainability, equity, and vibrancy. Learn about our project review process.
Stevens Creek Promenade Project Scorecard
The revised Stevens Creek Promenade proposal includes 580 residential units allocated among three buildings, including 173 units of affordable housing. The project incorporates a paseo and a roughly 0.8 acre promenade extending from Stevens Creek Boulevard to Albany Drive. The promenade will incorporate community amenities such as a children’s play area, an outdoor fitness area with machines, and a fenced dog area. The project also includes a 250-hotel room with approximately 8,500 square feet of commercial space as well as 2,800 square feet of restaurant space. In total, the site will include 704 parking spaces, including 67 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, as well as 146 bicycle parking spaces. Revised Proposal was not Scored as our members only highlighted positive elements and room for improvement.
Stevens Creek Promenade scored an overall 3.67 out of 5 from our Project Advocacy Committee members in 2018. Revised Proposal from 2022 was not scored as our members only highlighted positive elements and room for improvement.
Community:
Miramar continues to build upon Fortbay’s early community engagement efforts, which include multiple previous meetings with Stevens Creek Advisory Group (SCAG). Such meetings resulted in the inclusion of affordable housing, provisions of the promenade, and current project setbacks. Around that same time, back in April of 2018, the project was presented to Catalyze SV members. Our members are happy to see the project has been modified, including an increased number of affordable homes. This matches what our members asked for in 2018. They are very happy to provide community feedback on this project one more time leading up to the 8/30 City Council decision. This speaks positively to the extensive, ongoing community engagement efforts for this project.
Vibrancy:
Among the project features best received by our members was the inclusion of a variety of amenities accessible both to residents of this proposal and to the broader community. Specifically, our members are excited to see the promenade serve as a center point in an area desperately lacking green and open space. As we understand it, the promenade will include amenities such as a children’s play area, an outdoor exercise area with equipment, a fenced dog play area, and seating platforms. Our members were also excited to see some mixed-use and the inclusion of a 250-room hotel which incorporates 8,500 square feet of commercial space, as well as 2,800 square feet of restaurant space. Overall, our members responded positively to the changes and believe this will be an active and attractive addition to the neighborhood.
Transportation:
The project proposes a total of 704 parking spaces, including 67 electric vehicle charging stations. This is a positive step - a drastic reduction from the original 1,665 parking spots proposed back in 2018. Our members welcomed the reduction of the parking count as that means there’s more spaces for people, not vehicles. The site is within proximity to VTA’s bus routes 23 and 523, yet not within walking proximity to a light-rail station or adequate public transit to support a transit-oriented development. As such, our members see the potential to transform this project into a bicycle-oriented development with access points from Stevens Creek Boulevard and Albany Drive. A few recommendations our members have for this project is to increase the bicycle parking slots from 146 to at least 200, create a designated ride-share area, and provide VTA transit passes for residents.
Intensity/Zoning:
Our members were very happy to see a project which will provide 580 homes to combat the demand for market and affordable housing in this area of West San Jose. The project includes three 5-story buildings which will provide a combined 580 homes. At 115 du/acre, our members believe this project is on the right track, yet it could use more density and height to demonstrate a commitment to tackling our severe housing needs. This area’s General Plan is Urban Village with allowable higher density, and so our members believe this project should be denser in general as Stevens Creek seeks to diversify into an area more attractive to residents, businesses, and tourists. Although our members see this as a missed opportunity to provide more housing & height, they don't want to see any reduction in the current density.
Sustainability:
The buildings will be all-electric and the project will incorporate drought-tolerant landscaping. Our members were excited that this project will be constructed using modular construction - saving materials, time, and providing less vehicle disruption and trips. As we understand, the project meets the City of San Jose’s requirements for all-electric appliances. Our members were happy to see solar panels included in the design to offset energy costs - a recommendation made back in 2018. Our members suggest this project pursue a bolder and more defined sustainability plan such as GreenPoint Rated (GPR) Gold or Platinum.
Affordability:
Our members were very happy to see the proposal increase the number of affordable homes from 87 to 173. The 30% on-site proposal is exactly what our members want to see, especially in this area of West San Jose. Unlike other developments which pay the in-lieu fee to meet their Inclusionary Housing Ordinance (IHO) obligation, this proposal exceeds that through a stand-alone building composed of 173 affordable units. As we understand it, the proposal is aiming to provide a mix of affordability ranges - from 50% AMI, 60% AMI, 80% AMI and 120% AMI. This variety of affordability levels was well-received among our members. Though it may be out of your hands because of financing constraints, our members are disappointed that financing structures result in a separate building for people seeking affordable homes, so they hope to see you incorporate a comparable level of amenities between the market-rate building and the affordable one.
Legacy:
No buildings of merit were identified on the site. The project requires removing multiple heritage trees however the existing stripmall layout makes it difficult to save many of the trees. If possible heritage trees located within the future park should be protected and saved.