T
he San Jose City Council has rejected a proposal for two high-rise towers in the Cory neighborhood, effectively killing the project. VCI Companies had planned to build 17-story and 14-story buildings at 826 North Winchester Boulevard, which would have included 135 apartments, including some affordable units. However, the project faced significant opposition from local residents who deemed it a "monstrosity" due to its size and potential impact on the single-family neighborhood.

    Despite VCI's willingness to reduce the height of the buildings to 11 stories, the council denied the necessary land-use amendment. The site's current zoning designation limits building height to 35 feet in some areas and 50 feet in others. The project's rejection comes as San Jose is still required to build 62,200 units of housing by 2031 to meet its Regional Housing Needs Allocation.

    The proposal had also drawn criticism from Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor and Vice Mayor Kelly Cox, who wrote a letter to the San Jose City Council expressing concerns about the project's size, compatibility with the surrounding area, and potential impacts on traffic, safety, and roads.