St. James Historic District Neighborhood Assoc.

St. James Historic District Neighborhood Assoc.

An Historic District of the Future

High Density Housing (As reported in 2004)
The surrounding neighborhoods are rapidly changing with high density housing & mix use development.

The area traditionally known as St. James Square Historic District (with focus on the north side) has grown from a once heavily industrialized area to an area of mix residential & business use. Architectural Award Winner, The Villa Torino Apartments & one of the first and notably stylish condominium complexes in San Jose, The St. James Place Condominiums (on St. James across from the Park) has been joined by additional “high density” homes. The Plaza “luxury style” Condominiums built by Barry Swenson on East Julian and just across the street, truly one of the most upscale-metropolitan style condominium projects in downtown San Jose- Park Townsend. And there’s more! All within 4 blocks of of each other, other stylish communities such as 350 2nd street, Number One East Julian, Classics at Key Stone, and the soon to be developed North San Pedro housing sites to the West of Market on Julian (mix of rental & owned). Last but definitely not least - probably to be one of the most noteworthy condominium complexes to be developed in Downtown San Jose: Park View Towers – a Barry Swenson Development. High Rise Residential Condominium towers that will sit on the foot of St. James Park at St. James (where the Oasis Church Ministry currently stands) and to take up the existing parcel on Devine between 1st & 2nd street. The First Church of Christ Scientist (which is owned by Barry Swenson) may also be integrated into this project.

About our association

Formed in January of 2005, the SJHDNA was inevitable.As the core of downtown San José’s landscape evolves, with the goal of being a vibrant city of culture and entertainment, just a few blocks north pass Santa Clara Street, and East of San Pedro Square, you will find what many residents of the immediate area refer to as San Jose’s hidden gem, “the other park”, but in reality “the original park” - a true remnant of San Jose History, St. James Park in St. James Square Historic District.

First there was St. James Square. The origin of St. James Square dates back to the beginning of San Jose's American period (1848) when the city fore fathers commissioned a Yale educated surveyor, Charles S. Lyman, to lay out plans for a future city known –the city of San Jose. Lyman reserved an area for public open space by combining twin rectangular blocks within the standard grid plan for the city. This area was called St. James Square. Twenty years later Frederick Law Olmsted, America's greatest pioneer landscape architect, laid out the diagonal and peripheral walkways.

Located between N. 1st and N. 3rd, St. John and St. James Streets, the square became a park in 1868, with the addition of cypress, eucalyptus, elm, orange and sycamore trees. Diagonals and peripheral walkways completed the stately design of the Nineteenth Century Park. St. James Park provided, and still provides, a classic urban space more commonly found in East Coast cities.

In 1955, the character of the park was altered when it was dissected by North Second Street. The grand & historic buildings that surround the park, remains intact, and the park is a welcome gateway to San Jose's busy downtown to the South and the technological “awe” of the famed Silicon Valley companies to the North.

The area traditionally known as St. James Square Historic District (with focus on the north side) has grown from a once heavily industrialized area to an area of mix residential & business use. Architectural Award Winner, The Villa Torino Apartments & one of the first and notably stylish condominium complexes in San Jose, The St. James Place Condominiums (on St. James across from the Park) has been joined by additional “high density” homes. The Plaza “luxury style” Condominiums built by Barry Swenson on East Julian and just across the street, truly one of the most upscale-metropolitan style condominium projects in downtown San Jose- Park Townsend. And there’s more! All within 4 blocks of of each other, other stylish communities such as 350 2nd street, Number One East Julian, Classics at Key Stone, and the soon to be developed North San Pedro housing sites to the West of Market on Julian (mix of rental & owned). Last but definitely not least - probably to be one of the most noteworthy condominium complexes to be developed in Downtown San Jose: Park View Towers – a Barry Swenson Development. High Rise Residential Condominium towers that will sit on the foot of St. James Park at St. James (where the Oasis Church Ministry currently stands) and to take up the existing parcel on Devine between 1st & 2nd street. The First Church of Christ Scientist (which is owned by Barry Swenson) may also be integrated into this project.

Something to think about...
As new residents move into downtown San Jose, in belief and in support of the dream of a vibrant & metropolitan lifestyle, as the plans that have been laid out are fulfilled, sometimes a “re-visit” or a “sanity check” on the current state of the plan (and I am not referring to the Master Plan of the Park, but rather the make up of it’s residents) – resources to support the new community will hopefully be looked at, if not already. Whether it restaurants, specialty grocery stores, or the boutique style shops like hair salons, florist, bakeries, gourmet wines & dessert shops and the like. These types of businesses may be able to be incorporated in a central area (A Park Towers or St. James “Plaza” for instance?) where not only the immediate residents of the area can support (estimated population of 1,000), but those from greater San Jose and beyond, would want to visit.

Creating neighborhoods for those to live and “pass through” is one thing, creating neighborhoods for people “to linger” is another. Bringing neighborhood character, like those in San Francisco & New York, promotes community & diversity, and of course brings us to the BOTTOM LINE - REVENUE - for the city (taxes & tourism) and its citizens (jobs!).

St. James Historic District (The Park & its residential community), can be another “feather” (district) in Downtown San Jose’s “cap (i.e. San Pedro Square, CMI project (the core of downtown), Fairmont Area, SOFA, Downtown Proper, etc.)

If we consider these “visions” (if not thought of already), “mixing in with the new” the Architectural & Historic style of the area (the Victorian style buildings on 1st & Devine - Teske’s, etc..) will help maintain & “brand” the identity of a special time in our new “big city history”.



The surrounding neighborhoods are rapidly changing with high density housing & mix use development.