Willow Glen
The largest city in Santa ClaraCounty and Northern California, San Jose is renowned as the one of the main centers of the high tech industry, and boasts a population of over 900,000. Attractive to many for job opportunities and prosperous businesses, newcomers soon find there is much more to San Jose than the high-tech companies which call the area home. What makes San Jose is the myriad of neighborhoods which have evolved, all sustained by their own shops, businesses, churches, social organizations and activities.
One of the many established neighborhood within San Jose, Willow Glen is quaint but picturesque, with lots of trees and gardens surrounding attractive and lovingly maintained homes. Many of the homes were custom built in 1930's and retain stylistic and structural characteristics of that era, including basements, hardwood floors, brick walls and large gardens. Overall the neighborhood has an upscale, charming Midwest-New England look. It has long been acknowledged that Willow Glen, as well as the Rose Garden district, present some of the finest 'old' housing in San Jose.
As one of the many historical and unique districts within San Jose, Willow Glen is located south and slightly west of downtown. The traditional boundaries of Willow Glen are the GuadalupeRiver, Los Gatos Creek, and Coe and Curtner Avenues, though many adjacent areas are usually included today. 'Downtown Willow Glen' is on Lincoln Avenue, generally between Coe and Minnesota Avenues, and is well-maintained due to the efforts of the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association (WGNA). 'A grassroots community organization dedicated to improving life in Willow Glen', the WGNA is similar to many other neighborhood organizations which is dedicated to the enhancement and preservation of the neighborhood, focusing on issues such as land use, planning, traffic, safety, open space, parks and recreation within Willow Glen. Recently this organization has restored Los Gatos Creek, which has only increased the value and beauty of Willow Glen, while providing a beautiful trail on which to bike, run, or walk locally.
