Help host the Produce Share!

We are looking for a few more hosts for the weekly Produce Share in Hummingbird Park, Sundays, 1 to 3 p.m. It's easy and fun -- you pick up a wagon a few houses down the street from the park, roll it into the park, set up a table, and greet people as they arrive to share fruits and veggies from local gardens. Encourage people to take the bounty home (or take it home yourself) and then at the end, roll the wagon back down the street.

We need hosts on these days:
August 10
August 31
September 7
September 21

Send email to board@nwgna.org with any questions.

Produce Share this Sunday!

What can you bring to this Sunday's produce share? Let us know and we'll see you on Sunday, 1:00 to 3:00 in Hummingbird Park.

Area Bikeway Projects Public Meeting August 13th

How do you think bikeways could be improved in our area? Do the lanes we have get you where you need to go? Does it strike you as odd that Bird has a large painted buffer between auto traffic and the median and yet the bicycle lane is right up against traffic? Is it strange that the lane ends abruptly at Virginia rather than continuing on over 280 to popular public transit destinations such as the CA-17 Shuttle stop or to the existing Enhanced Bicycle Lane on San Fernando that could take you to Diridon Station? Would you like to see the Willow Street Bicycle Lane upgraded to an Enhanced Bicycle Lane with green paint and/or a buffer that could get us more safely to downtown Willow Glen? If you'd like to see these changes or any others you've dreamt up happen sooner rather than later, here's your chance to communicate that to the people in charge of these matters.

The City of San José Department of Transportation (DOT) will host a public meeting to discuss proposed bicycle‐related street improvements for the area west of downtown San Jose on Wednesday, August 13, 2014, 6:00 PM, at Gardner Community Center, 520 W. Virginia St.

The following is a brief overview of the upcoming planned bikeway improvements.

Stockton Avenue:
add Bicycle Lanes between The Alameda and Emory Street

Julian Street:
add Bicycle Lanes between The Alameda and Guadalupe River Trail

Park Avenue:
add new and improve existing Bicycle Lanes from Market Street to the Santa Clara city limits

Lincoln Avenue:
add Bicycle Lanes between Willow Street and San Carlos Street
add Shared Lane pavement markings and signing between San Carlos Street and Park Avenue

Scott‐Auzerais:
add Shared Roadway pavement markings between MacArthur Avenue and Los Gatos Creek Trail

You can find more comprehensive details of the above plans in the full contents of the DOT flier by clicking here to download the Acrobat file.

Produce Share this Sunday!

What can you bring to this Sunday's produce share? Let us know and we'll see you on Sunday, 1:00 to 3:00 in Hummingbird Park.

Produce Share this Sunday!

What can you bring to this Sunday's produce share? Let us know and we'll see you on Sunday, 1:00 to 3:00 in Hummingbird Park.

Produce Share this Sunday!

What can you bring to this Sunday's produce share? Let us know and we'll see you on Sunday, 1:00 to 3:00 in Hummingbird Park.

Produce Share this Sunday!

What can you bring to this Sunday's produce share? Let us know and we'll see you on Sunday, 1:00 to 3:00 in Hummingbird Park.

SJ Rotary celebrating 100th year with July 4 fireworks

To celebrate its 100th anniversary in San Jose, the Rotary Club is hosting a free fireworks event this year. This one-time hosting will take place in Discovery Meadow. More information is available online. 

Free Intro to Urban Bicycling Workshops

From the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition:

Has it been a long time since you've ridden a bike or are you simply looking for a refresher? Come learn the basics of bicycling at our Urban Bicycling Workshops. The course is a one-hour presentation covering many of the basics: the rules of the road, safety tips, and especially for Bay Area Bike Share riders, Bike Share 101.

Read more about it!

Produce Share this Sunday!

What can you bring to this Sunday's produce share? Let us know and we'll see you on Sunday, 1:00 to 3:00 in Hummingbird Park.

San Jose Clean App Expands Reporting Options

We have been using the "San Jose Clean" smartphone app for quite a while now for graffiti abatement in our neighborhood and the response by city contractors has been impressive. It is very simple and quick to use, and importantly graffiti is usually cleaned up within 1 workday of the report.

It looks like The City of San Jose has expanded the applications reach beyond graffiti and park concerns and now there is a whole host of report options available including potholes, streetlights, and animal control among many, many others. We will be trying out its new capabilities and we'd like to hear  how successful it is for you. The app is free, takes up relatively little storage, and is compatible with iOS and Android, just search "San Jose Clean" and download.

Produce Share Kickoff: 2014

The Produce Share is back starting this Sunday! The schedule and concept are the same as the last two years; open in Hummingbird Park on Sundays from 1-3pm. Feel free to bring any of your excess produce to the share and exchange it for extras grown by fellow neighbors. It's also a great way to meet people with similar gardening interests. And don't be shy about swooping in and collecting some fresh fruits and vegetables even if you don't have any to contribute yet. We always end up with extras anyhow. Happy Sharing!

Garage Sale Featured Homes

569 Atlanta
LG Stainless Dishwasher; Vintage Free-standing Kitchen Cabinet; LG Window A/C; Dustbuster; Wheeled Laundry Sorter; Wool Area Rug; Clothing & Shoes; + much more!!!

965 Prevost
Nintendo Wii; Wii Fit; Beanie Babies; Professional Soccer Jerseys; Clothing; Kitchen Items; Books

Development at 552 Coe

As you may have recently seen, the lot at 552 Coe has been largely cleared, with the exception of one structure. A sign on Coe, as shown, informs us to two requested variances. There are two requests for variances in the setbacks of accessory buildings. The developer wishes to alter the setbacks from 60' to 20'. We contacted Planning Division staff Liz Schuller to get more information on the subject. Liz informed us that the property will be divided into two lots. They are each unusual in that they have two front setbacks because there is no rear property line - unusual to most properties but common to those between Coe and Fisk. As you may know, homes in this area often faceCoe Avenue but have a garage entrance on Fisk. That is the proposed orientation for these lots as well. If approved, the variances would allow the garages to be placed 20' from Fisk. Those homes with garages on Fisk are typically older and their garages are right up against the sidewalk. The 20' setback is a comparative improvement, allowing for parking on the driveway as well as improved sight lines for ingress and egress.


The houses themselves will be two stories tall. Code dictates that houses not exceed a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 45%. This means at the floor level, the house may not cover more than 45% of the lot. We were forwarded some preliminary drawings for lot 23 (the lot closer to Bird Ave.) which reveals some other details specific to that lot.

• The plan is just within the 45% threshold (at 44.89%) so there are no FAR variances requested.
• Side setbacks are at the 5' minimum.
• Total living space will be 2587 square feet. 
• The garage is 20'x20', so 400 square feet. 
• Trees at the SW and NW corners of the property will be left in place.

Neighborhood Garage Sale June 14th!

It is time for the annual NWGNA Garage Sale. If you haven't gotten your flier yet, you soon will. Here's what you need to know:

What NWGNA Does:
Places signage at most neighborhood gateways and promotes on social media

What You Do:
Set up your stuff
It can be as easy as that!

Best Results Checklist:
Get Your House on The Map <click here!

Become Featured on Our Site:
Send a short list of your most impressive sale items to board@nwgna.org

Post Your Ad on Craigslist:
Include "North Willow Glen" and attach pictures

Be Ready Early:
Motivated shoppers will be there first and we are a popular gateway, especially with our great bridge sign

Donate Stuff to a Worthy Cause:
Got decent stuff to get rid of but don't want to host a garage sale? Donate it to NWGNA: call (510) 593-6078 by Friday June 13 to learn how. Proceeds will go to more awesome neighborhood events.