STOP the Construction of High-Rise Apartment Building at Willow/Kotenberg

We, the undersigned residents and concerned citizens of Willow Glen, vehemently oppose the construction of the proposed 7-story, 126-unit apartment building at the intersection of Willow Street and Kotenberg Avenue.

We unite in protest against the lack of foresight in city planning and infrastructure assessment, allowing property owners and developers to erect large high-density housing structures in older neighborhoods ill-equipped to handle the strain on essential services such as sewer, electricity, and other municipal amenities.

We voice the following critical concerns regarding this proposed construction project:

• Dubious Expedited Process: The proposal exploited a loophole known as the Builder’s Remedy, by filing before San Jose’s submission of its Housing Elements plan, circumventing local zoning laws. San Jose’s Housing Elements plan is now approved and such a building and scale would not be permissible today!
• Antiquated Neighborhood Infrastructure: The development would introduce approximately 250-300 new residents to an already burdened infrastructure. The sewer system in Willow Glen is outdated, our district electrical grid is near capacity and roads are insufficient to support high-density housing.
• Weak Soil Composition: The area's soil instability causes sinking issues in single-story houses, leading to foundational problems. What measures does the city have in place to ensure the stability of structures of this size and capacity?
• Additional Traffic Congestion and Parking Shortages on Narrow Streets: This will worsen traffic congestion in our neighborhoods, with the reduction of lanes on Lincoln Avenue already redirecting traffic onto residential streets. Insufficient underground parking spaces will exacerbate existing parking shortages, likely leading to overflow parking on narrow residential streets, of which many have permitted parking.
• Safety Issues: Increased traffic will pose safety risks for our children, pedestrians, and cyclists by obstructing drivers' visibility.

We urge the City of San Jose and relevant authorities to reconsider the approval of this construction project and engage in meaningful dialogue with the community to explore alternative solutions that address housing needs while respecting the values and vision of Willow Glen.

(Please note, the donations go to Change.org, not this project)