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Who Killed the Building? · Case brief · October 22, 2026

The Arya and The Luxe: Los Gatos Boulevard Builder's Remedy Projects

Los Gatos · Santa Clara County · California · https://whokilledthebuilding.com/projects/los-gatos-arya-luxe-2023

Two builder's remedy applications on Los Gatos Boulevard have been in dispute since 2023. The Arya, from Arya Properties LLC, would put 175 units in a mixed-use project on the Ace Hardware site at 15300 and 15330 Los Gatos Boulevard. The Luxe, from Los Gatos Boulevard Properties LLC, would put 120 units over commercial space at 14849 Los Gatos Boulevard in the North 40 area. Together they total 295 units, 59 of them affordable (35 at the Arya and 24 at the Luxe, per the Los Gatan), at heights of more than 116 feet and about 146 feet. The applicants, owned by Ali Moayed, filed preliminary applications in the second half of 2023, when the town had no compliant housing element; HCD certified it on July 10, 2024. The town found each formal application incomplete three times in 2024, and staff then took the position that the projects' vested rights may have expired because an applicant gets only one 90-day period to cure. The developers appealed, and on March 28, 2025 the town sued them, asking a court to confirm its reading. Both applications were deemed complete on April 16, 2025, and the town says processing continued during the suit. On January 29, 2026, Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Helen E. Williams rejected the town's single-window reading, finding that each incompleteness determination opens a new 90-day period. The order is not a final judgment. On April 21, 2026 the council granted both appeals, 3-2. Both projects are now in environmental review: an EIR for the Arya and an initial study for the Luxe. Filing dates differ between town staff and court records; this entry uses the staff dates.

Project facts

JurisdictionLos Gatos, Santa Clara County
StatusLitigated
Project typeMixed-Use
Address15300 and 15330 Los Gatos Boulevard (The Arya) and 14849 Los Gatos Boulevard (The Luxe), Los Gatos, CA 95032
Units proposed295
Affordable units59
Floors9
Date filedAugust 30, 2023
Delay37 months
Housing elementIn compliance (HCD)

Mechanism and what it did

Decision-making bodies

Staff · Court · City Council · Judge Helen Williams

Timeline

DateEventWhat the record shows
August 30, 2023Luxe Files Builder's Remedy Preliminary ApplicationFiled for 14849 Los Gatos Boulevard while the town lacked a compliant housing element. Court records give Sept. 12 or 13, 2023. Town of Los Gatos: https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/losgatos-pubu/MEET-Packet-3423e578564544c4b346a056e5fd6d16.pdf
November 7, 2023Arya Files Builder's Remedy Preliminary ApplicationFiled inside the town's compliance gap, which the court later put at Feb. 1, 2023 to July 10, 2024. Town of Los Gatos: https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/losgatos-pubu/MEET-Packet-3423e578564544c4b346a056e5fd6d16.pdf
July 10, 2024State Certifies Los Gatos Housing ElementHCD finds the housing element in substantial compliance. Town of Los Gatos: https://losgatosca.gov/1735
December 23, 2024Town Finds Arya Incomplete a Third TimeThe Luxe's third incompleteness finding came Nov. 20, 2024. Staff then said the projects' vesting may have expired. Town of Los Gatos: https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/losgatos-pubu/MEET-Packet-3423e578564544c4b346a056e5fd6d16.pdf
March 28, 2025Town Sues Applicants Over Cure PeriodCase 25CV462276 asks for a ruling that an applicant gets only one 90-day period to complete an application. Los Gatan: https://losgatan.com/los-gatos-sues-pair-of-developers-seeking-clarity-around-housing-rules/
April 16, 2025Both Applications Deemed CompleteThe town says processing continues while the suit is pending. Town of Los Gatos: https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/losgatos-pubu/MEET-Packet-3423e578564544c4b346a056e5fd6d16.pdf
September 5, 2025Housing Groups File Amicus BriefYIMBY Law, the California Housing Defense Fund and Californians for Homeownership back the developers. YIMBY Law: https://www.yimbylaw.org/amicus-briefs
January 29, 2026Judge Rejects Town's Single-Window ReadingJudge Helen E. Williams rules that each incompleteness finding opens a new 90-day period and denies the town's motion. Los Gatan: https://losgatan.com/judge-sides-with-developers-and-housing-activists-in-lawsuit-over-vesting-rights/
April 21, 2026Council Grants Arya and Luxe Appeals, 3-2Council members Badame and Hudes dissent, and a Hudes motion to delay two weeks fails. The council ties further Arya talks to the end of the litigation. Town minutes: https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/losgatos-pubu/MEET-Minutes-3423e578564544c4b346a056e5fd6d16.pdf

Decisions

DateBodyActionVoteStaff rec.Source
December 23, 2024Staffdeemed application incomplete
Third incompleteness determination for The Arya; The Luxe's third came Nov. 20, 2024.
—NoneTown of Los Gatos: https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/losgatos-pubu/MEET-Packet-3423e578564544c4b346a056e5fd6d16.pdf
January 29, 2026Courtruling issued
Ruled that each incompleteness determination opens a new 90-day period; denied the town's motion. Not a final judgment.
—UnknownLos Gatan: https://losgatan.com/judge-sides-with-developers-and-housing-activists-in-lawsuit-over-vesting-rights/
April 21, 2026City Councilappeal upheld
Granted the applicants' appeals for The Arya and The Luxe (Resolutions 2026-020 and 2026-021).
3–2UnknownTown minutes: https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/losgatos-pubu/MEET-Minutes-3423e578564544c4b346a056e5fd6d16.pdf

Sources

  1. Los Gatos sues pair of developers, seeking clarity around housing rules, Los Gatan (Drew Penner), April 2, 2025 [News Article]. https://losgatan.com/los-gatos-sues-pair-of-developers-seeking-clarity-around-housing-rules/
  2. Developers: Los Gatos is 'flouting' State law, Los Gatan (Drew Penner), July 3, 2025 [News Article]. https://losgatan.com/developers-los-gatos-is-flouting-state-law/
  3. Judge sides with developers and housing activists in lawsuit over vesting rights, Los Gatan (Drew Penner), January 30, 2026 [News Article]. https://losgatan.com/judge-sides-with-developers-and-housing-activists-in-lawsuit-over-vesting-rights/
  4. Agenda packet, Item 9 staff report with the Jan. 29, 2026 court order, Town of Los Gatos (Gabrielle Whelan), April 16, 2026 [Planning Document]. https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/losgatos-pubu/MEET-Packet-3423e578564544c4b346a056e5fd6d16.pdf
  5. Town Council minutes, April 21, 2026, Town of Los Gatos, May 5, 2026 [Planning Document]. https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/losgatos-pubu/MEET-Minutes-3423e578564544c4b346a056e5fd6d16.pdf
  6. Item 9 addendum (public comment), Town of Los Gatos [Planning Document]. https://losgatos-ca.municodemeetings.com/sites/losgatos-ca.municodemeetings.com/files/fileattachments/town_council/meeting/7858/item.9.addendum.pdf
  7. Los Gatos asks courts for legal clarity on proposed developments, San Jose Spotlight [News Article]. https://sanjosespotlight.com/los-gatos-asks-courts-for-legal-clarity-on-proposed-developments/
  8. Amicus briefs, YIMBY Law [Other]. https://www.yimbylaw.org/amicus-briefs
  9. Los Gatos Boulevard project page, Town of Los Gatos [Planning Document]. https://www.losgatosca.gov/2963/44067/Los-Gatos-Boulevard
  10. Housing element, Town of Los Gatos [Planning Document]. https://losgatosca.gov/1735

Data quality

Rating 4 of 5. Primary records for the key facts; minor details may rest on reporting. Corrections: https://whokilledthebuilding.com/corrections.