To provide design requirements and additional voluntary guidance for property owners, design professionals, and City staff when planning and reviewing Eichler house projects.

san josé eichler neighborhoods 

San José has seven residential tracts that were developed by Eichler Homes from the 1950s to the 1960s, which form five neighborhoods: Morepark (1952-53), Fairglen (1957-59), Fairglen Additions (Units 1, 2, and 3; 1959-61), Hudson (1961-63), and Fairhaven (1961-63). Eichler Homes founder Joseph Eichler was inspired by the affordable housing designs of Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the most influential American architects. Built in the postwar period, Eichler houses also represent the optimism that Americans shared after World War II. Their architectural style is unique to California, and their features allow homeowners to take full advantage of California’s climate and abundant sunlight.

Project Description 

The City of San José, in partnership with its consultant team Page & Turnbull, has created Eichler Neighborhood Objective Design Standards (ODS) that cover proposed exterior changes to Eichler houses listed on the San José Historic Resources Inventory that require a Single Family House Permit or other Planning permit that involves historic review. Currently, the Eichler Neighborhood ODS only apply to properties located within the Fairglen Additions historic district, which is a National Register Historic District listed in the San José Historic Resources Inventory. The Eichler Neighborhood ODS could apply in the future to any additional Eichler tracts in San José that are designated as historic districts or unique individually listed Eicher houses.

Like all buildings, San Jose’s Eichler houses require maintenance to remain in good condition. In addition, property owners and residents may desire to make alterations to adapt the buildings to contemporary needs. New construction is anticipated, including additions to Eichler houses and new home construction in Eichler neighborhoods. The Eichler Neighborhood ODS seek to accommodate growth and change in San Jose’s Eichler neighborhoods while guiding alterations of existing buildings and new development and maintaining historic character.

The Eichler Neighborhood ODS comply with State of California housing legislation and streamlined review requirements, and supplement San José’s existing project review by establishing a clear set of rules (design standards) and recommendations (optional design guidance) for exterior alterations to maintain the qualities that are most important to the historic character of Eichler neighborhoods. The Eichler Neighborhood ODS outline broad concepts to inform the thought process behind a project’s development. The concepts are organized by feature or type of project, and then into objective design standards (“shall,” “must”) and optional guidance (“should,” “appropriate,” “encourage,”) to assist with design decisions. The Eichler Neighborhood ODS can be applied to many different situations to achieve a resulting project that is integrated into its Eichler neighborhood context.

Draft Eichler Neighborhood Objective Design Standards

The draft Eichler Neighborhood ODS document was made available in October 2024 for public review and comment through November 8, 2024. 

Comments were provided by the public at the project community meeting held on October 24, 2024, the Historic Landmarks Commission meeting held on November 6, 2024  and via email. Linked in the table below are the comments received by email.

All public comments were reviewed and considered by Page & Turnbull and City staff. The draft Eichler Neighborhood ODS was revised accordingly the final document is available here.

Upcoming Public Meetings

The Final Eichler Neighborhood ODS document will be considered by the Historic Landmarks Commission which will make a recommendation on adoption to the Planning Commission. The Final Eichler Neighborhood ODS document will then be considered by the Planning Commission which will make a recommendation to the City Council and the City Council will take final action. The following is the meeting schedule:

Planning Commission - In-person/view only on Zoom
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 @ 6:30 p.m.
Location: San José City Hall
200 East Santa Clara Street, Council Chambers
San José, California 95113

San José City Council Meeting - In-person/view only on Zoom
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 @ 1:30 p.m.
Location: San José City Hall
200 East Santa Clara Street, Council Chambers
San José, California 95113

Past Meetings

Historic Landmarks Commission - In-person/view only on Zoom
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 @ 6:30 p.m.
Location: San José City Hall
200 East Santa Clara Street, Wing Rooms 118-120
San José, California 95113

Historic Landmarks Commission Meeting - In-person/view only on Zoom
November 6, 2024 6:30 p.m.
Location: San José City Hall
200 East Santa Clara Street, Wing Rooms 118-120
San José, California 95113
Zoom link and Meeting Detail

Community Meeting Public Comment - In-person/Virtual
Thursday, October 24, 2024 6:00 p.m.
Location: San José City Hall
200 East Santa Clara Street, Wing Rooms 118-120
San José, California 95113
Zoom Recording

CONTACT

Dana Peak, Historic Preservation Officer and Principal Planner
dana.peak@sanjoseca.gov
(408) 534-2990