Village Architect: Backen, Arrigoni & Ross

Silicon Valley's Largest Master-Planned Community

North Park is a $600-million, 2,700-unit apartment community on 60 acres in the heart of Silicon Valley. Surrounded by the corporate headquarters and research and design facilities of dozens of the Valley's largest high-tech companies, North Park is designed to offer a number of product types, at various price levels, to attract a broad range of potential renters from technology entrepreneurs to senior executives and the professional workers they employ. Central to the community design of this development is a five-acre public park that projects into the site from North First Street. The ten villages that comprise North Park are integrated into the master planned community around the park with urban pedestrian and vehicular connections. Each village features private recreational facilities including pools, spas, club rooms, and fitness centers. The community will incorporate 20,000 square feet of conveniently located retail shops and a 40,000-square-foot health club. Due to its location immediately adjacent to a light rail station, residents of North Park will have the convenient option of taking mass transit to San Jose's CBD as well as to the numerous corporate campuses lining North First Street. As an accommodation to the city and to encourage ridership, free transit passes will be provided to all residents of North Park.

	Master Planner: ROMA Design Group

Interior Design: Austin Johnson Interiors

The conception and successful entitlement of this community was the result of a close working relationship between the City of San Jose and the developer. Soon after executing a purchase agreement with the land seller, the principals of Thompson|Dorfman met with San Jose planning staff to review project constraints and the City's vision for this site. The North Park site was the last large undeveloped residential parcel in North San Jose and the City was favorably disposed to high-density development. Design challenges included a shortage of public parks in the area, a high water table and flood plain conditions limiting subterranean parking, and environmental issues resulting from the former agricultural use of the site. Within one year, a master plan was developed; an Environmental Impact Report was certified and the North Park community was approved by the San Jose City Council. Construction commenced in August 1999 and first units were delivered in early 2002.