Naglee Park, San Jose, California

Naglee Park is a residential neighborhood within downtown San Jose and near San Jose State University. The general boundaries of the neighborhood are Santa Clara Street, 11th Street, Interstate 280, and Coyote Creek. The local high school is San Jose High Academy.

Much of the Naglee Park neighborhood was developed on the grounds of the estate of Civil War Brig. General Henry Morris Naglee. The Naglee estate^[1] was famous for its gardens and vineyards. In 1902, nearly 20 years after General Naglee's death, the estate was subdivided to form the Naglee Park neighborhood. The Naglee Park Subdivision is bounded by E Santa Clara Street, E William Street, South 11th Street, and Coyote Creek. Many of the homes were constructed in the early 1900s, but few are built before 1906 because of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. These houses were built for many early Santa Clara Valley professionals and have significant historical significance. One of the most beautiful streets in the entire city is South 16th Street and features elegant homes on a terrace overlooking William Street Park and is in the Naglee Terrace Subdivision. The Naglee Terrace Subdivision is bounded by East William Street, East Margaret Street, Coyote Creek (William Street Park), and South 11th Street.

In 1958 a group of property owners were successful in changing the neighborhood zoning to allow multifamily development. Attempts had started in the 1940s with residents who were leaving the area and felt they could get better prices with less restrictive zoning. After San Jose State began to allow students to live off campus, in 1968, students moved into the area. About 70% of board and care facilities for mentally disabled people moved into the neighborhood, after changes to state policies, because of low prices in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Banks redlined the area until 1973 when the neighborhood association convinced the city to not deposit money in particular banks until they began lending in the area again. The neighborhood was zoned back into single-family homes in 1978 at the request of neighborhood residents.^[2]

In the 1950s through 1970s, the neighborhood was heavily impacted by growth of the University and downtown. Many of the larger homes were converted into apartments or board and care facilities. During the 1990s and 2000s, however, the neighborhood has experienced a revival, with many of the converted homes being fixed up and returned to single-family dwellings. Today, Naglee Park is one of the most livable neighborhoods in San Jose.

The Campus Community Association (CCA) is the active neighborhood association in Naglee Park. The CCA sponsors neighborhood events such as Bark in the Park, the 4th of July parade and block party, and Christmas social.

References

• Jacobs, Allan B. (1985). "Observing and Interpreting Naglee Park". Looking at Cities. Harvard University Press. pp. 14–29. 

Coordinates: 37°20.2′N 121°52.4′W / 37.3367°N 121.8733°W / 37.3367; -121.8733