Our neighborhood definitely has a breadth of diverse architecture. You can often guess a building's age by it's architecture and material. Walking past Hedding and The Alameda in the College Park neighborhood you can't miss this concrete and glass example of New Formalism.
Designed in 1963 by famed Edward Durell Stone (Radio City) and built in 1965 for Wells Fargo Bank with his son doing the landscape design. If you think you've seen this building before then you might have seen the original 1961 version which is the National Geographic Society's HQ in Washington D.C.
While no one in the neighborhood was happy to see the post WWII modernism movement devour the neighborhood's mansions on the Alameda, I am happy that at least we got something visually interesting.
Barry Swenson, the son of Clifford Swenson and the grandson of Carl Swenson (Hotel DeAnza, Medico Dental), now owns the property, while still actively building many of the new downtown skyscraper projects like his Father and Grandfather did. Barry is also a philanthropist, donating neighborhood space for both Garden to Table (urban farm on the other side of the Taylor Street Bridge) and Good Karma Bikes.
The neighborhood has survived losing the original tenant, Wells Fargo, although you can still see the drive through bank teller lanes that were designed for the car culture tearing through our streets.
Designed in 1963 by famed Edward Durell Stone (Radio City) and built in 1965 for Wells Fargo Bank with his son doing the landscape design. If you think you've seen this building before then you might have seen the original 1961 version which is the National Geographic Society's HQ in Washington D.C.
While no one in the neighborhood was happy to see the post WWII modernism movement devour the neighborhood's mansions on the Alameda, I am happy that at least we got something visually interesting.
Barry Swenson, the son of Clifford Swenson and the grandson of Carl Swenson (Hotel DeAnza, Medico Dental), now owns the property, while still actively building many of the new downtown skyscraper projects like his Father and Grandfather did. Barry is also a philanthropist, donating neighborhood space for both Garden to Table (urban farm on the other side of the Taylor Street Bridge) and Good Karma Bikes.
The neighborhood has survived losing the original tenant, Wells Fargo, although you can still see the drive through bank teller lanes that were designed for the car culture tearing through our streets.
Old Republic Title recently pulled out to newer digs by the airport, so Barry is leasing the first 2 floors at $2 a square foot. I think if Barry put in a front door facing the Alameda, a Bay Area Bike Share bicycle rack in front and an electric car charging spots in back they might just make this nearly 50 year old building sexy again!
Our Rose Garden neighborhood area is defined as "San Jose West Valley" in the Silicon Valley office real estate jargon. So if you're looking for new office space in the neighborhood you can always benefit from being able to WALK to work like some of the fine tenants at Clever Girls Collective!
Our Rose Garden neighborhood area is defined as "San Jose West Valley" in the Silicon Valley office real estate jargon. So if you're looking for new office space in the neighborhood you can always benefit from being able to WALK to work like some of the fine tenants at Clever Girls Collective!
Carl Swenson's Home and Office
Carl Swenson's home still stands @ 1395 Shasta at the corner of Park Ave. He lived here when he founded Carl N, Swenson Company back in 1942. Today it is a multi unit rental, but still retains it's original residential charm and fits into the Hanchett Park neighborhood nicely.
The Carl N. Swenson Co. Inc. company offices were @ 355 Stockton Avenue before being torn down to build the Avalon Morrison Park Apartments were built in 2014. I don't know if the iconic signage was saved, but the Swenson family has definitely made its mark on San Jose.
The Carl N. Swenson Co. Inc. company offices were @ 355 Stockton Avenue before being torn down to build the Avalon Morrison Park Apartments were built in 2014. I don't know if the iconic signage was saved, but the Swenson family has definitely made its mark on San Jose.