Who Killed the Building? · Case brief · October 22, 2026
826 North Winchester Boulevard Mixed-Use Apartments
San Jose · Santa Clara County · California · https://whokilledthebuilding.com/projects/san-jose-826-winchester-2024
A proposed mixed-use development at 826 North Winchester Boulevard in the Cory neighborhood of West San Jose, on a .6-acre parcel just north of Santana Row and Westfield Valley Fair. Developer: VCI Companies. The project called for two residential towers — 17 stories and 14 stories — connected by a glass skybridge, with 135 apartments (70 one-bedrooms, 65 two-bedrooms), 20 affordable units, approximately 25,000 sq ft of retail, a 170-car parking garage, and 18,800 sq ft of public open space. The existing site: a derelict, graffiti-covered two-story commercial building, abandoned for approximately 5 years, and the location of multiple fires and criminal activity. The project required a General Plan Amendment to change the land use designation from "Neighborhood Community Commercial" to "Transit Residential." City File Nos.: GP23-011, C24-062, H24-052, ER24-147. VCI first presented plans to the Cory Neighborhood Association in January 2024. Despite endorsements from Greenbelt Alliance, the Housing Action Coalition, and the NorCal Carpenters Union, a majority of speakers at the June 2025 council hearing opposed the project. VCI offered to reduce height from 17 stories to 11 stories. The San Jose City Council voted unanimously to deny the General Plan Amendment on June 10, 2025. Plans are "effectively dead" according to The Real Deal.
Project facts
JurisdictionSan Jose, Santa Clara County
StatusDenied
Project typeMixed-Use
Address826 N. Winchester Blvd, San Jose, CA 95128
Units proposed135
Affordable units20
Floors17
Date filedJanuary 24, 2024
Date deniedJune 10, 2025
Delay17 months
Housing elementIn compliance (HCD)
Mechanism and what it did
Discretionary Review — invoked by City of San Jose City Council (June 10, 2025). VCI Companies required a General Plan Amendment to change the land use designation of 826 N. Winchester from "Neighborhood Community Commercial" to "Transit Residential" — necessary to permit the requested density and height. The amendment was a fully discretionary action requiring City Council approval, giving the council complete latitude to approve or deny based on policy judgment without being bound by objective development standards. The council voted unanimously to deny the amendment on June 10, 2025, citing inconsistency with the General Plan and scale concerns. Unlike most cases in this database (CEQA lawsuits, SB 35 denial, referenda), this denial required nothing more than a council vote. No litigation, no referendum, no environmental challenge — just elected officials exercising their discretionary authority. The developer offered to reduce height from 17 to 11 stories and was denied anyway. Outcome: the obstruction succeeded. Added delay: 17 months. https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-residents-win-fight-to-stop-housing-project/
Decision-making bodies
No deciding body has been recorded for this case yet.
Timeline
Date
Event
What the record shows
January 1, 2019
Building Abandoned
The existing two-story commercial building at 826 N. Winchester Blvd is abandoned. Over the following years it becomes covered in graffiti, a site of multiple fires and criminal activity. Multiple developers eye the property for redevelopment, none successfully, until VCI Companies purchases it. San Jose Spotlight: https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-residents-win-fight-to-stop-housing-project/
January 24, 2024
First Community Outreach Meeting
VCI Companies hosts the first public outreach meeting at the Agrihood community center at 76 N. Winchester Blvd to introduce its plans to the Cory Neighborhood Association and surrounding residents. The 17-story, 14-story twin tower design with glass skybridge is presented. VCI distributes a survey to gather community input. Cory Neighborhood Association: https://coryneighborhood.org/tag/826nwinchester/
February 29, 2024
SF YIMBY Coverage Publicizes Project
SF YIMBY publishes a detailed article on the 826 N. Winchester proposal including renderings. Comments reflect the split: pro-housing advocates cite the ideal transit-adjacent infill location; neighbors object to residents being able to look into their backyards from the upper floors. SF YIMBY: https://sfyimby.com/2024/02/17-story-tower-proposed-for-826-north-winchester-boulevard-san-jose.html
Greenbelt Alliance formally endorses the 826 N. Winchester project under its Climate SMART Endorsement Program, citing the project's infill location, transit proximity, affordable units, and LEED Silver commitment. Catalyze SV PAC also endorses the project. Greenbelt Alliance: https://www.greenbelt.org/blog/826-n-winchester-san-jose-endorsement/
December 16, 2024
City Hosts Community Meeting on General Plan Amendment
The City of San Jose Planning Department hosts a formal Community, General Plan Amendment, and Environmental Impact Report Scoping Meeting for the 826 N. Winchester project. City File Nos.: GP23-011, C24-062, H24-052, ER24-147. The meeting receives community input on the scope of environmental review. Cory Neighborhood Association / City of San Jose: https://coryneighborhood.org/tag/826nwinchester/
December 30, 2024
The Real Deal Reports Intensifying NIMBY Opposition
The Real Deal publishes "NIMBYs Roast Plan for Apartment Towers Near San Jose's Santana Row," documenting organized homeowner opposition. Residents describe the project as "a monstrosity," "ugly, ugly, ugly," and "an attempt to bring Downtown to our neighborhood." The Real Deal SF: https://therealdeal.com/san-francisco/2024/12/30/nimbys-fight-plan-for-apartments-near-san-joses-santana-row/
June 10, 2025
San Jose City Council Unanimously Denies General Plan Amendment
The San Jose City Council votes unanimously to deny VCI's request for a General Plan Amendment at 826 N. Winchester Blvd. More than 40 speakers address the council; a majority oppose the project. Key opposition voice: Lindy Hayes (daughter of former Mayor Janet Grey Hayes). Key supporters: Housing Action Coalition; NorCal Carpenters Union Local 405 (Rigo Gallardo). VCI offers to reduce height to 11 stories — the council denies the project regardless. Councilmember Michael Mulcahy leads the denial. The Real Deal: VCI's plans are "now effectively dead." San Jose Spotlight: https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-residents-win-fight-to-stop-housing-project/
Decisions
No decision records yet. Decision records are added from minutes, agenda packets, video, or rulings.
Sources
826 N. Winchester Endorsement — Greenbelt Alliance, Greenbelt Alliance, January 1, 2024 [Other]. https://www.greenbelt.org/blog/826-n-winchester-san-jose-endorsement/ Formal Climate SMART endorsement. Updated June 10, 2025 with note that the council voted against the project. Important for documenting institutional pro-housing support and its irrelevance to the outcome. (Endorsement date approximate — VERIFY)
17-Story Tower Proposed for 826 North Winchester Boulevard, San Jose, SF YIMBY (Andrew Nelson), February 29, 2024 [News Article]. https://sfyimby.com/2024/02/17-story-tower-proposed-for-826-north-winchester-boulevard-san-jose.html Best source for project specifications: 179,250 sq ft total; 135 apartments (70 one-bed + 65 two-bed); 25,000 sq ft retail; 170-car garage; 18,800 sq ft POPOS; 17 and 14 stories; glass skybridge; 20 affordable units.
NIMBYs Roast Plan for Apartment Towers Near San Jose's Santana Row, The Real Deal SF, December 30, 2024 [News Article]. https://therealdeal.com/san-francisco/2024/12/30/nimbys-fight-plan-for-apartments-near-san-joses-santana-row/ Best source for the organized opposition as it developed. Contains Kevin Golden quote, "monstrosity" characterizations, and "attempt to bring Downtown to our neighborhood" framing.
San Jose City Council Shoots Down VCI Tower Proposal, The Real Deal SF, June 12, 2025 [News Article]. https://therealdeal.com/san-francisco/2025/06/12/san-jose-city-council-rejects-vci-towers/ First post-denial coverage. Contains key phrase "plans are now effectively dead." Confirms amendment was from "Neighborhood Community Commercial" to "Transit Residential."
San Jose Rejects 135 Apartments, More Housing (Substack), June 15, 2025 [Other]. https://morehousing.substack.com/p/826-north-winchester Good roundup that aggregates key coverage of the denial. Confirms site "is riddled with graffiti, and has been the site of multiple fires and criminal activity." Provides case file numbers. (GP23-011, C24-062, H24-052, ER24-147)
San Jose Residents Win Fight to Stop Housing Project, San Jose Spotlight (Vicente Vera), June 15, 2025 [News Article]. https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-residents-win-fight-to-stop-housing-project/ Primary source for the June 10 council denial. Contains Mulcahy quote, Hayes quote, Kelly Erardi quote, Rigo Gallardo and Housing Action Coalition support, and the detail about VCI offering to reduce to 11 stories.
San Jose Officials Deny Construction of Proposed 17-Story Apartment Complex, NBC Bay Area, June 15, 2025 [News Article]. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/san-jose-delay-construction-apartment-complex/3893065/ NBC Bay Area coverage of the denial. Confirms VCI offered to reduce to 11 stories and was still denied.
San Jose City Council Blocks West San Jose Housing Project After Homeowner Outcry, Local News Matters, June 16, 2025 [News Article]. https://localnewsmatters.org/2025/06/15/san-jose-city-council-blocks-west-san-jose-housing-project-after-homeowner-outcry/ Second detailed account of the denial. Confirms 40+ speakers, majority opposed. Contains Mulcahy's fuller quote about the Winchester corridor general plan review.
Data quality
Rating 3 of 5. Multiple sources, including at least one primary record. Corrections: https://whokilledthebuilding.com/corrections.