1207 N Capitol Avenue
In Design
1207 N Capitol Ave, San Jose, CA 95132
Project Overview
• Project Type: 100% Affordable
• Owner/Developer: DANCO Communities
• Presented to our members: October 2024
Catalyze SV evaluates project sustainability, equity, and vibrancy. Learn about our project review process.
1207 N Capitol Avenue Project Scorecard
DANCO is proposing a 100% affordable, five-story multifamily housing project with 128 affordable housing units on a 1.5-gross acre site in San José's Berryessa District. The project will provide affordable units for households and individuals earning between 30 and 70% of the Area Median Income. Residents will have access to 55 parking spaces in an at-grade parking lot as well as 55 long-term bicycle storage spaces and scattered short-term bicycle parking. Additional proposed amenities include a community kitchen, fitness room, yoga studio, and cafe space.
1207 N Capitol Avenue scored an overall 3.83 out of 5 from our Project Advocacy Committee members.
Community Score: 4/5
Quality, engaging community outreach is a central pillar of successful projects, and while DANCO has not yet reached out to the community, our members believe the team has devised a thoughtful plan that will guide its efforts. DANCO anticipates hosting several meetings to bring together neighborhood associations, local businesses, and potential future residents to collaborate. Our members particularly appreciate the emphasis placed on reaching out to potential future residents, a group that is typically drowned out by the concerns of entrenched voices. We will look out for periodic updates from DANCO about the groups they meet with and how they will implement community feedback.
Vibrancy Score: 4/5
It is clear to our members that DANCO has put significant thought into how its project will interface with and enhance the public realm. The North Capitol Avenue facing side of the project will feature wide sidewalks and two small entry plazas with seating, shade trees, and short-term bicycle parking. Additionally, the building facade will feature large floor-to-ceiling windows, opening up the gym and yoga studios to natural light and external street life. Members were excited to hear that DANCO has already committed to a large decorative mural and is developing a process to select a local artist. However, vibrancy can always be improved, and our members have a number of suggestions for 1207 N Capitol Avenue. Some suggest adding an awning extension along the first-floor level to offer a sense of shelter. Another suggestion involving awnings is to implement them as a window treatment to break up the relatively flat face of the wall. Enticing spaces encourage folks to linger, and our members recommend providing ample seating for those hanging around the interior courtyard and entry plazas.
Transportation Score: 4/5
1207 N Capitol Avenue is adjacent to VTA’s Orange Line, making it the ideal location for a project looking to minimize the space needed for cars. Our members support DANCO’s decision to include only 55 parking spaces, which means roughly 0.4 spaces per unit. Rather than providing these spaces in a costly parking structure above or below ground, the project will feature an at-grade surface lot. This decision gives the project greater flexibility to change and adapt to shifting trends in transportation than if it were to build a parking structure. If the number of residents choosing to drive is below expectations or significantly decreases over time, a surface lot can be converted into more open space, more bicycle parking, or even more housing. Decreasing the emphasis on cars means it is even more important that alternative transit modes are readily accessible. To improve access, our members want DANCO to work with VTA to provide residents with transit passes via VTA’s SmartPass program. Members also suggest increasing the number of long-term bicycle parking spaces, highlighting that there are three schools within seven minutes by bike and that many parents will not be able to drive their kids to school.
Intensity/Zoning Score: 4/5
This project takes a single-family home next to a light rail station and replaces it with 128 new homes—our members are impressed. Our members would be even more impressed if the project added even more homes through the addition of a 6th floor. A site adjacent to fast and frequent transit is the best place to build dense, and our members want to encourage DANCO to think bigger. In our experience, an additional floor or two can be engineered without changing the construction type.
Sustainability Score: 3/5
Our members would like to hear more specifics regarding how 1207 N. Capitol Avenue will meet sustainability goals. However, we are impressed with DANCO’s existing portfolio of buildings with LEED Platinum certification. The developer has assured us that the project will be all-electric and as energy-efficient as possible. The City of San Jose requires that projects receive certification as LEED Silver or equivalent, and our members encourage the developer to commit to LEED Platinum, the same standard they’ve achieved with other projects. Our members will revisit this category as the project continues to develop its sustainability measures.
Affordability Score: 4/5
1207 N Capitol Avenue will provide 127 units to households earning between 30 to 70% of the Area Median Income. Of these, 10% will become permanent supportive housing. While DANCO has not finalized the details, they anticipate providing on-site case management, resident service coordination, and health and wellness classes utilizing the community kitchen and gym. Our members are extremely impressed with all of the aforementioned details. To improve upon an already great project, our members recommend providing at least 10% of the units to extremely low-income households earning 15 to 30% AMI.
Legacy Score: N/A
Members of Catalyze SV did not find our Legacy category applicable to this site.