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April 1, 2017

The Metropolitan

John Sheehan

The Metropolitan is a 102 unit affordable multi-family development in San Jose, CA. Phase I was completed and occupied in October last year. For the 70 units available in the first phase - the developer, Charities Housing, received over 6,500 applications. Clearly the need is great. Located along a busy commercial thoroughfare the massing and street frontage sought to offer a vibrant face to the public realm. Large storefront openings and pedestrian scaled trellises and patio walls announce the entry and management offices. The rear of the site backs up against an active rail line. To address the occasional noise (the tracks are not frequently used) the project's required parking was organized in a long two-level concrete parking structure that foils the sound of the trains. The units are then arranged in a "L" shaped building that completes two sides of a generous courtyard - that hosts a playground, bar-b-que/picnic area and recreation lawn. A community room/clubhouse separates this courtyard from the driveway leading to the parking. Phase II breaks ground in April.

The Metropolitan (or Met) is the fourth project completed for Charities Housing. Currently the office is at work on two more tax credit financed projects for this developer - a 160 unit transitional housing development, also in San Jose, and a 19 unit affordable senior development in Cupertino.

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