San Jose has finalized the removal of a farmhouse once home to World War II Japanese internment camp survivors to make way for a huge housing development — and one official isn’t happy about it.
The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a parkland agreement with Hanover Company, the developer of a 1,472-multi-family housing complex, which will include a 2.5-acre park and plaza at 0 Seely Ave. in North San Jose. The park was the last piece of the proposal needing approval. The design will include two pickleball courts, two dog parks, a playground and more. Eiichi Edward Sakauye Park is anticipated to open in 2030.
The developer avoided about $20 million in city park fees by incorporating the open space and plaza into the design. Hanover is still responsible for $11.1 million in in-lieu fees.
The 23-acre site will demolish all of the farm structures and relocate the historic Sakauye House to History Park in San Jose. Councilmember Rosemary Kamei, who has advocated for the preservation of the Sakauye farmhouse on the property, said she’s disappointed not only with the forced relocation of the house, but also the city’s lack of funding for the move.
Kamei accused the Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department of “ghosting” her when she asked for a list of projects poised to receive $1.3 million in potential funding from the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority. She said some of the funds could have been used toward renovating the farmhouse and keeping it on the property.
“I feel like I’m being steamrolled,” Kamei said at the meeting. “This has been done to other communities, and it is not okay.”
Parks Director Jon Cicirelli told councilmembers he shared information with Kamei about some of the projects, and the department ultimately decided to focus on existing priorities.
Historical preservation advocates said they only need about $400,000 more for the relocation and renovation of the Sakauye House. Hanover Company has pledged to donate $100,000 toward the efforts.
Vanessa Hatakeyama, executive director of the Japanese American Museum of San Jose, said they need more than symbolic support from city officials if they truly want to preserve the cultural history being erased by new developments.
“To date, this responsibility has fallen entirely on History San Jose, the Japanese American Museum of San Jose and (Preservation Action Council of San Jose), without any direct financial support from the city,” Hatakeyama said at the meeting. “This relocation was an important contingency on the new park moving forward, and that contingency remains unresolved and unaddressed.”
City spokesperson Demetria Machado said San Jose recognizes the cultural significance of the Sakauye House and remains committed to exploring options to help preserve this important piece of the city.
“The city of San Jose has a long-term commitment with History San Jose and is the nonprofit’s primary funder,” she told San José Spotlight. “It’s to the city’s benefit that History San Jose succeeds.”
Bill Schroh, president and CEO of History San Jose, said they’re running a fundraising campaign for the remaining cost throughout Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in May.
“We’re celebrating AAPI history and the Sakauye family is a perfect example of a successful Japanese family,” he told San José Spotlight. “They came here, had a farm and unfortunately were interned in WWII — but were able to come back and continue their lives.”
The remaining costs could have been absorbed through a grant from the open space authority, Schroh said, but the City Manager’s Office and parks department failed to instruct them on how to apply for the funding despite multiple requests. He described the city’s lack of willingness to jump on the potential funding opportunity as “disgraceful.”
Angel Rios, deputy city manager, said conversations involving such small amounts of funding are usually between the open space authority and parks department.
“From a communications standpoint, as a department we can all do better,” Rios told councilmembers. “We are definitely committed to exploring and trying to find a resolution.”
Contact Vicente Vera at [email protected] or follow @VicenteJVera on X.
