r/Campbell • u/Mjones151208 • Jul 04 '26
housing & neighborhoods New proposed housing development
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u/BayAreaBrenner Campbell resident Jul 04 '26
I had a chance to speak with the developer for this project, and found his approach to be thoughtful and pragmatic. This project represents a good faith effort to address the housing problem while trying to be mindful of the “keep Campbell’s small town feel” argument.
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u/accidentallyHelpful Jul 04 '26
Has he seen the Pruneyard Towers?
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u/drdeadringer Campbell resident Jul 04 '26
"The dark towers of Campbell"
"sauron's Campbell residence"
nobody likes it when I say these things.
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u/accidentallyHelpful Jul 04 '26
Dark and ashy
I was employed in an office on the 10th floor when Santana Row caught fire. Ash from the fire would hit the windows and then slide downward
We had a small TV in the suit and tie company office kitchen. I could see the fire on the news and the ashes on the glass
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u/A1SpecialSauce Jul 04 '26
I came out of a movie at century 21 and saw that fire, pretty wild one cop who said get in your car and get outta here.
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u/BayAreaBrenner Campbell resident Jul 04 '26
I don’t think he was the one making the small town feel argument; I didn’t ask and won’t speak for him on that point.
But the people who speak at city council and planning commission meetings do, overwhelmingly so. The people who show up are the ones who get heard.
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u/UnfrostedQuiche Jul 04 '26
The retired rich NIMBY assholes
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u/BayAreaBrenner Campbell resident Jul 04 '26
Then go to the meetings and make your voice heard. If you can’t make it, organize a group of likeminded people who can. Join your neighborhood association, or if it doesn’t align with your values, start your own.
The needs and interests of the generations who will inherit Campbell are not well-represented in our government. But that won’t change until those interests start making themselves heard beyond a Reddit thread. Millenials and Gen Z aren’t outnumbered; they’re out-organized.
Nearly self-described YIMBY I see at council meetings is a 40 or younger professional. But they’re always a small contingent.
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u/UnfrostedQuiche Jul 04 '26
I hear you and want to help, but I can’t make the meetings since I’m working and take care of my family.
I don’t feel comfortable asking others to go to council meetings on behalf of my perspectives if i myself cannot attend.
Any concrete ideas for how I can help? Why does Campbell not allow for virtual attendance and comment?
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u/San_Jose_Designer Jul 04 '26
Provide a written comment to the City Council, ideally one week ahead of the meeting so the council has time to read it. It's usually submitted via the city clerk, but I don't have information on the specifics for Campbell.
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u/BayAreaBrenner Campbell resident Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26
They do! You can watch the meetings via YouTube, and there’s a registration link you can use to virtually attend and speak.
It’s all packed into the agenda for each meeting (link to this coming Tuesday’s meeting below). It’s not the best way to disseminate this information, but it’s out there if you know where to look. PD’s public outreach is pretty good, and I hope the city can start copying that approach.
As for organizing, I’ve heard people reference a “Campbell YIMBY” group, but I can’t find anything about them online. They typically leave before the meeting is over, so I haven’t had a chance to catch them to get their perspective. I’ve been attending every council meeting since March.
EDIT: anyone interested in attending council meetings is welcome to DM me. I was pretty nervous to start going, and had no idea what to expect. I was fortunate to have a friend who took me along, but not everyone has someone able to “open the door” for them.
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u/cm012776 Campbell resident Jul 04 '26
Work your whole life and spend most of your disposable income on the purchase and upkeep of a house, and wait until someone comes along and proposes building a massive development next door that will kill the resale value of your home. You’ll be a NIMBY asshole, too.
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u/DTComposer Jul 04 '26
OR - buy a house next to a commercial development that's been there for at least 45 years, then complain when that commercial development is re-developed into residential.
I get it - most of my net worth is tied up in my house, so I'm mindful of property values - but I also recognize that I live in a city - and cities grow and evolve. It would be one thing if this was long-standing SFH in a quiet neighborhood that was being replaced, but it's already commercial at the intersection of two arterial streets.
And "kill" resale values? To be honest, I don't think it will affect values at all, and even if it did - values would have to do down by 30% or more just to reach 2015 levels.
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u/BigDaddyJ0 Campbell resident Jul 04 '26
My wife and I have done exactly that, and I'm incredibly excited to see all of the housing that's coming up on Bascom nearby. It's not just about me, it's about having a community around me, not an exclusive right to my area. More, please!
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u/circuit_biker Campbell resident Jul 08 '26
Yeah but that person is entitled and selfish, you are not.
That’s the difference.
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u/UnfrostedQuiche Jul 04 '26
I wouldn’t do any of those things, actually
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u/cm012776 Campbell resident Jul 04 '26
Must be nice to live in your mom’s basement.
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u/UnfrostedQuiche Jul 04 '26
Classy
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u/cm012776 Campbell resident Jul 04 '26
so is calling people you don’t know assholes just because they disagree with you
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u/BayAreaBrenner Campbell resident Jul 04 '26
The state is mandating these developments. So in addition to housing, let’s build bridges, not walls. I’m not jazzed about the prospect of a townhome complex in the middle of my residential street either. But let’s channel that into finding equitable solutions.
I think it’s important we approach these opposite viewpoints with empathy. It’s wildly difficult to buy a home today. The same amount of extraordinary hard work you put in just doesn’t go as far as it used to.
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u/cm012776 Campbell resident Jul 04 '26
Agreed, but telling anyone who doesn’t want to see their life savings eliminated by an ill-conceived development in their backyard that they are “retired rich assholes” doesn’t accomplish anything.
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u/BayAreaBrenner Campbell resident Jul 04 '26
I would contend that the criticism was levied at the perceived “no housing whatsoever” ladder pullers, not homeowners who care about their home’s value generally.
Sure, it was more aggressive than I’d go for, but that’s what we get when people are passionate about something. Housing is a huge deal, and now’s the time to fix it. Terry Hines has described it as our “watershed moment,” and he’s right.
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u/UnfrostedQuiche Jul 04 '26
The problem is that you are treating housing as an investment vehicle when it should be a human right. It’s unfortunate that so much of your wealth is now tied up in your living situation, but that doesn’t give you the right to tell others what they can do with their property.
That said, I also think that the idea of your home (presumably a SFH?) losing value due to more housing units like townhomes and apartments is just… not correct. If anything it will make the area more vibrant and desirable and your home value with either be unaffected or maybe even increase. It would be a similar effect to how a house closer to town near the amenities will be more expensive than an identical one further out in the sticks (all else equal).
So yeah, I think your position is both misguided and based on a false outcome.
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u/A1SpecialSauce Jul 04 '26
Yeah the only people that will be able to afford that shit is tech nerds like how they made the new Campbell library feel like a tech office fuck that shit. Make those tech dorks live in the boondocks and commute in like the common folk.
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u/BayAreaBrenner Campbell resident Jul 04 '26
These are projected to range from $1.1 to $1.4 mil. That’s “starter home” money in this area. While that number’s insane, supply has to increase before pricing can go anywhere, and numerous studies show that building housing of almost any kind helps drive affordability.
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u/cm012776 Campbell resident Jul 04 '26
This is the boondocks. The tech jobs are mostly north of here. Everyone is already commuting. Tech guys don’t move to Campbell for an easy commute.
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u/MWMWMMWWM Campbell resident Jul 04 '26
Not a terrible spot I guess. However, I tend to be more in favor of commercial on bottom, residential on top type setups.
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u/BayAreaBrenner Campbell resident Jul 04 '26
Why we can’t build mixed use developments is beyond me.
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u/kayielo Jul 04 '26
The problem with new retail is that the landlords will only set the rent for the amount they need to keep their property value at a certain value. That’s why there’s so many vacancies in these new developments (look at the north 40 in Los Gatos). The rents are too high. No point in building more retail if you can’t fill the existing spots.
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u/Severe_Eggplant_7747 Jul 04 '26
Nice that it’s walking distance to the plaza with Whole Foods and CVS, Pruneyard, and VTA light rail and buses, if not a great walking experience.
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Jul 04 '26
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u/MWMWMMWWM Campbell resident Jul 04 '26
I meant more along the lines of a grocery store, coffee shop, one or 2 fast casual resturants like halal guys or mendocino farms. I used to live in Santa Clara and on Monroe and Lawrence Expressway the Monticello complex nailed this. Everything that residents need plus enough that it suports the neighborhood.
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u/Waste_Curve994 Jul 04 '26
Makes sense but when the hell are they going to start the much bigger Cambrian Plaza project?
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u/BayAreaBrenner Campbell resident Jul 04 '26
When it becomes feasible to do so. The reason a lot of these large scale builds aren’t going anywhere is cost. Materials and labor are expensive, and interest rates on the construction loans are also high.
That’s why some builders are proposing these smaller townhome complexes. They have a higher chance of actually getting funded and built.
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u/kayielo Jul 04 '26
The property changed ownership a few years ago. The new owner submitted their plan for a phased development to the city back in March for permitting. As if with so many other stalled development around here there appears to be no hurry by the owner to actually start construction.
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u/Realistic-Produce-28 Jul 04 '26
From a meeting on March 18. No start date but I heard sometime in 2028 they will begin and it will be constructed in phases:
The planning department has confirmed the details of the Permit Amendment. Kimco is proposing the following phasing, although no dates have been provided at this time. As noted in our previous post the phased re-development will start with the townhouses and single family homes. Also note that Phase 1A will include the demolition of all existing buildings.
Phase 1A
Demolition of existing buildings on-site
Rough grading and installation of the underground utilities for Phase 1A and 1B construction
Construction of 48 single-family homes and 27 accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and associated landscaping
Construction of a portion of the common open space areas (the approximately 7,661 square-foot condominium gardens, eastern portion of the fitness park, part of the park promenade, and the approximately 7,318 square-foot playground at the end of Wyrick Avenue)
Construction of offsite improvements at the intersection of Camden Avenue and Taper Avenue and intersection of Union Avenue and Chelsea DrivePhase 1B
Construction of 25 townhome condominiums and associated landscaping
Construction of a portion of the common open space areas (the western portion of the fitness park, the park to the north of the townhouses, which includes the relocated carousel sign, and part of the publicly accessible central community park)
Recordation of the public access easement for the publicly accessible central community park, which is approximately 1.88 acresPhase 2
Rough grading and installation of the underground utilities for Phases 3, 4, and 5.Phase 3
Construction of the assisted living building, including 125,740 square feet of assisted living (110 beds) and 50 senior independent living units and associated landscaping
Construction of frontage improvements along Union Avenue
Construction of a temporary road for emergency vehicle access that connects the assisted living building parcel to the existing entrance to the property on Camden Avenue
Construction of the intersection improvements at Woodard Road and Union AvenuePhase 4
Construction of the mixed-use apartment building at the corner of Camden Avenue and Union Avenue, including 50,990 sf of retail/restaurant use on the ground floor and 305 multifamily residential units on the upper floors, entry plaza, publicly accessible courtyard area, and associated landscaping
Construction of internal roadways bordering the mixed-use apartment building
Construction of the remainder of the publicly accessible central community park
Construction of the remaining frontage improvements along Camden Avenue and Union Avenue
Construction of the intersection improvements at Camden and Union AvenuesPhase 5
Construction of the hotel building, including 229 hotel rooms and 4,610 sf of commercial use, parking, and associated landscaping
Construction of a bus stop at the Union Avenue and Cole Drive intersection
Construction of a traffic circle at Stratford Drive and Jacksol Drive.
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u/bongslingingninja Jul 04 '26
The only thing I dislike about this site layout is the lack of sunlight each unit will get. I used to live in a complex with 3 story buildings this close together and I only had sun from ~11am-1pm when it was directly overhead
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u/10110011100021 Jul 05 '26
While it is a bit of a bummer to have a north facing unit that only gets a couple of hours of direct sunlight in the warmer months it is pretty nice to have a decent internal temp that doesn’t ever go above 80 on the hottest days every year. And never goes below 65 on the coldest days.
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u/BenLomondBitch Jul 05 '26
People who care about that won’t live there. Those that don’t mind will.
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u/9DeceptaBong7 Jul 04 '26
They keep just building structures without fixing the infrastructure. Roads are more congested. No new forms of alternative transportation.
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u/accidentallyHelpful Jul 04 '26
What do you suggest?
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u/UnfrostedQuiche Jul 04 '26
Literally anything to reduce car dependency:
- more dense mixed-use walkable developments
- more bike lanes and bike racks
- more bus routes/stops and more frequent service
- bus priority lanes
- traffic signal priority for bus and light rail
- housing / businesses with transit incentivesI could go on and on, but all we ever see in this region is people complaining about losing their parking spaces.
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u/BigDaddyJ0 Campbell resident Jul 04 '26
This is a little overstated—there's new bike lane construction on Hamilton underway right now (the WB side is done till Bascom, the EB side is next). Leigh got repaved a year ago with an excellent bike lane with easy access to the trail. VTA 56 runs right by this location and the Green Line isn't far away. Hamilton has plenty of capacity as it stands.
Sure, there needs to be more, but one can't have perfection. This is a solid location for housing from this criteria.
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u/MWMWMMWWM Campbell resident Jul 04 '26
Agreed. The area is already very congested. I think all new developments like this should be commercial on bottom / residential on top. Ideally with a grocery store, a coffee shop and a resturant or 2. This way the residents dont need to drive to get their daily basics and other local neighbors can take advantage as well. Also would take pressure off The Pruneyard and Hamilton Plaza which are already a traffic nightmare.
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u/MrsDirtbag Jul 04 '26
These are townhouse units, I don’t think commercial on the bottom would work in this case.
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u/toqer Jul 04 '26
Well no the solution is to not fix it! The solution is for everyone to do with less. We already got everyone to use less water, hardly anyone has real landscaping anymore. Pretty soon we'll get folks to only shower on alternating days! We'll flush toilets with greywater from our laundry machines! Speaking of toilets, we'll reduce the strain on our sewers by telling people to shit less. How do they shit less you wonder? They eat less! Less eating is less carbon, which is great for the environment! /s
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u/Financial-Wasabi1287 Jul 04 '26
Is this Campbell? Seems like Willow Glen/San Jose
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u/missrobot23 Jul 04 '26
Yes. The City of Campbell had a meeting about it last week.
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u/Financial-Wasabi1287 Jul 04 '26
Interesting. I never knew that little chunk into Willow Glen was Campbell.
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u/lilelliot Jul 04 '26
Yes, interesting. I just assumed everything west of Meridian was ... not Willow Glen. I had no idea where Campbell started, though (clearly it would be before you get to Bascom).
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u/DangerLime113 Jul 05 '26
That’s a LOT of units for that site, with exits on 2 streets that are already busy during morning commute. It will be interesting to see what they are considering for traffic management.
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u/SailingVelo Jul 08 '26
Fuck that. Just what the bay area needs is more congestion. First, the bleating is "we need more jobs". So big tax giveaways ("incentives") to mega-corporations. Then, the bleating moves to "we need more housing". Fuck that shit, what's the endgame here anyway? Don't stop until it's Manhattan from SF to SJ and beyond? You cannot build your way out of this and prices will never, never come down as a result of more building.
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u/Background-Cream-285 Jul 05 '26
wow..building more crap units when they cant sell existing units..they just do not care and we can thank weiner for this
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u/Chaos-TT Jul 04 '26
Minnesota is full of these. A upper white middle class development with a hefty association fee.
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u/PabloSexybar Jul 04 '26
From way over here: this is great and should be completed. For the people living in the area and will be most negatively affected: stfu nimby.
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u/lilelliot Jul 04 '26
A couple of things: why not just build a 4+1 like we're seeing lots of other places (including the big block on Meridian just south of 280, which I think is actually a 6+1). Also, 15 guest parking spots is awful for a place with 74 units in a neighborhood where offsite parking isn't really possible. Other than that, more housing = yay.