Evergreen
Ranked 10th best neighborhood in San Jose
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Great for
- Schools
- Parks & Recreation
- Internet Access
- Neighborly Spirit
- Clean & Green
Not great for
- Nightlife
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
Who lives here?
- Families with kids
- Professionals
- Retirees
- Singles
- Students
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Reviews
Evergreen
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"A gem that could stand a bit more polishing"
I have been a resident of San Jose's Evergreen neighborhood for more than 20 years. I have witnessed its greatest growth period, late '90s through early 2000s. Firstly, it's important to note that most of Evergreen's growth is guided by the 1980 Evergreen Specific Plan which provided its development ever since. The producers of the plan were careful to provide for a proportional expansion of commercial, manufacturing, retail, and residential development. The plan also called for fairly novel (for the day) suburban features including the proliferation of pocket parks and landscaped linear pedestrian through-ways that would supplement but not replace traditional monolithic city parks. The plan also called for the mostly unheard of traffic circles as to serve as gathering spaces and for traffic calming. Today the picturesque Evergreen Village Square retail center is situated around one such circle (actually, it's a square but serves the same purpose) and a circle, Strada Circolare, to its east is a welcome and scenic bit of roadway feature matched, perhaps, by only one or two other intersections in the entire city. With its cosmopolitan architectural influence, public library, green space, fountain, retailers, independent coffee shop, expanding casual dining options, and twice weekly farmer's market, the Evergreen Village Square is the not-so-secret gem of the area and bills itself with little debate, "San Jose's most beautiful shopping venue."
The very late 1990s developers, as are their habits, began attempts to chip away at specific plan guidelines, but first petitioning to sub-divide the acre-sized, commercially zoned empty parcels east of Yerba Buena Road north of the then Syva facility. (The latest tenant was HGST who moved out more than a year ago and the building stands empyt.) Community activism and a rightfully stubborn planning and city council resisted that notion until the recession of the late '90s discouraged development at its source. In the meantime, businesses were abandoning the Edanvale business park to the south. Why build and develop so far from Highway 101 when you can't fill available spaces right next to the highway? Today in 2018, another plan to rezone the area into residential has been defeated. The neighborhood has been able to enjoy a relatively undeveloped open space for nearly 20 years after others thought it would be business offices.
As for the housing, Evergreen as a whole remains mostly middle to upper-middle class (relative to Silicon Valley as a whole). Most of the residences built in the last two decades house college-educated, high-tech workers who expect their children to aspire as such or even moreso and they motivate their kids to perform well in school. The mostly outdated STAR and API rankings have fallen into disfavor because, some say, the scores don't fully rate school performance as a whole but rather only tell how kids perform on standard tests. Regardless, Evergreen elementary and middle schools have produced scores rivaling not just the coveted Cupertino school district but matching or even surpassing some of Palo Alto's public schools. On the other hand, while there is a market, no major private schools have emerged in the area. To put a dull point on this, Evergreen's local junior college, seems to be more concerned about selling or leasing property than it is about serving the local community. Most Evergreen students enrolled in a junior college actually leave the area to attend JCs out of the area. Still, with its relatively secluded and peaceful setting, great schools, and newer homes, Evergreen housing prices continue to rise at a good pace (or bad pace if you plan on moving here.)
A great but unheralded aspect about Evergreen is its access to local and regional parks and preserves. Right in its midst is Joseph Montgomery Park named after the aviation pioneer who developed the controllable wing surface and, in fact, coined the term "aeroplane" or airplane. His advances made powered flight possible. Just to the east is Grant Ranch with its miles of wilderness hiking trails and the closest camping area to San Jose. Beyond and up Mt. Hamilton and the world's oldest manned mountain-top observatory, Lick Observatory. Within 20 to 30 minutes drive is access to a number of parks and preserves. And while it isn't touted, local bicyclists love riding through the neighborhood because of its relative good roadways and little traffic. And not just local bicyclists. Two Amgen Tours of California, arguably the most important bicycle race outside of Europe, has been routed right through San Jose's Evergreen neighborhood, because of its terrain, low level of traffic, and scenery.
The very late 1990s developers, as are their habits, began attempts to chip away at specific plan guidelines, but first petitioning to sub-divide the acre-sized, commercially zoned empty parcels east of Yerba Buena Road north of the then Syva facility. (The latest tenant was HGST who moved out more than a year ago and the building stands empyt.) Community activism and a rightfully stubborn planning and city council resisted that notion until the recession of the late '90s discouraged development at its source. In the meantime, businesses were abandoning the Edanvale business park to the south. Why build and develop so far from Highway 101 when you can't fill available spaces right next to the highway? Today in 2018, another plan to rezone the area into residential has been defeated. The neighborhood has been able to enjoy a relatively undeveloped open space for nearly 20 years after others thought it would be business offices.
As for the housing, Evergreen as a whole remains mostly middle to upper-middle class (relative to Silicon Valley as a whole). Most of the residences built in the last two decades house college-educated, high-tech workers who expect their children to aspire as such or even moreso and they motivate their kids to perform well in school. The mostly outdated STAR and API rankings have fallen into disfavor because, some say, the scores don't fully rate school performance as a whole but rather only tell how kids perform on standard tests. Regardless, Evergreen elementary and middle schools have produced scores rivaling not just the coveted Cupertino school district but matching or even surpassing some of Palo Alto's public schools. On the other hand, while there is a market, no major private schools have emerged in the area. To put a dull point on this, Evergreen's local junior college, seems to be more concerned about selling or leasing property than it is about serving the local community. Most Evergreen students enrolled in a junior college actually leave the area to attend JCs out of the area. Still, with its relatively secluded and peaceful setting, great schools, and newer homes, Evergreen housing prices continue to rise at a good pace (or bad pace if you plan on moving here.)
A great but unheralded aspect about Evergreen is its access to local and regional parks and preserves. Right in its midst is Joseph Montgomery Park named after the aviation pioneer who developed the controllable wing surface and, in fact, coined the term "aeroplane" or airplane. His advances made powered flight possible. Just to the east is Grant Ranch with its miles of wilderness hiking trails and the closest camping area to San Jose. Beyond and up Mt. Hamilton and the world's oldest manned mountain-top observatory, Lick Observatory. Within 20 to 30 minutes drive is access to a number of parks and preserves. And while it isn't touted, local bicyclists love riding through the neighborhood because of its relative good roadways and little traffic. And not just local bicyclists. Two Amgen Tours of California, arguably the most important bicycle race outside of Europe, has been routed right through San Jose's Evergreen neighborhood, because of its terrain, low level of traffic, and scenery.
Pros
- Nice New Homes
- Great Schools
Cons
- No Nightlife
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Families with kids
Evergreen
"A mixed bag of residential terrain"
Framed by the winding streets of East Capitol Expressway, Yerba Buena Road, Murillo Avenue and Tully Road, Evergreen is a mixed bag of flat residential terrain. It is one of the more comfortable neighborhoods in San Jose’s southeastern quadrant. And being a part of San Jose, the district offers a short commute to the many dining and entertainment options that the city affords. Within the neighborhood, it is considered firmly middle-class, but has been expanding in recent years with new, elegant housing developments popping up towards the eastern fringe of the neighborhood.
Evergreen’s residential ambiance is hard to define with the various micro-neighborhoods it incorporates. One and two-story homes are blended into each community. Some blocks have those nice, tree-shaded streets, while others are bare of any communal foliage. Some residents take great pride in their lots being freshly manicured, while others leave lots unattended. Homes are usually small, blocky and of the California ranch variety. Neighborhoods such as Fowler and Chaboya are the latest additions to the district adding new housing developments. These homes offer beautiful house fronts, stucco walls, wide driveways and freshly painted two-car garages. They also offer larger lots for kids to play on the front lawn. On average, homes are priced around $800,000, but newer developments can climb to over $1 million. For renters, there are some new, great-looking apartment homes and/or condominiums situated close to Abom Road. Both these quarters tend to be more family-friendly than other neighborhoods closer to US Route 101.
For youngsters, the neighborhood encompasses Evergreen Valley High School, Quimby Oak Middle School and a handful of elementary schools that dot the district. Each school has its own level of academic achievements, but most don’t go above mediocre. For your shopping needs, Eastridge Mall anchors the northwestern corner. It hosts a large variety of dining options (ethnic cuisines, pizza, fast food, etc.) and an in-house movie theater. And like most malls, there are a number of different chain restaurants and stores within the area and an enormous surrounding parking lot for convenience.
Evergreen’s residential ambiance is hard to define with the various micro-neighborhoods it incorporates. One and two-story homes are blended into each community. Some blocks have those nice, tree-shaded streets, while others are bare of any communal foliage. Some residents take great pride in their lots being freshly manicured, while others leave lots unattended. Homes are usually small, blocky and of the California ranch variety. Neighborhoods such as Fowler and Chaboya are the latest additions to the district adding new housing developments. These homes offer beautiful house fronts, stucco walls, wide driveways and freshly painted two-car garages. They also offer larger lots for kids to play on the front lawn. On average, homes are priced around $800,000, but newer developments can climb to over $1 million. For renters, there are some new, great-looking apartment homes and/or condominiums situated close to Abom Road. Both these quarters tend to be more family-friendly than other neighborhoods closer to US Route 101.
For youngsters, the neighborhood encompasses Evergreen Valley High School, Quimby Oak Middle School and a handful of elementary schools that dot the district. Each school has its own level of academic achievements, but most don’t go above mediocre. For your shopping needs, Eastridge Mall anchors the northwestern corner. It hosts a large variety of dining options (ethnic cuisines, pizza, fast food, etc.) and an in-house movie theater. And like most malls, there are a number of different chain restaurants and stores within the area and an enormous surrounding parking lot for convenience.
Pros
- Close to Silicon Valley
- Nice New Homes
Cons
- No Nightlife
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- Students
Evergreen
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"The Far Tentacle of Suburban Sprawl"
The Evergreen area just to the south of Reid-Hillview Airport and Lake Cunningham on the far eastern end of San Jose is the far reach of SJ suburban sprawl. The area was in the midst of a housing boom, with tons of new construction going up, just when the Housing Crisis struck. Drive through the brand spanking new neighborhoods and you will still see homes that were not completed sitting, waiting for the return of construction.
Despite this, house prices here are still fairly high, with the median price being around $500 K. (Though some homes in the hills still price over $1 million.) Homes here are those two-story contemporary style homes with adobe walls and red-tiled roofs—a popular 80’s and 90’s style.
One of the big draws in the area for families are the schools. Evergreen Valley High can more than hold its own against any other school in the Bay Area. It has truly amazing test scores. And this standard of excellence permeates all levels of the education system in the Evergreen Valley area.
Now this is not a big nightlife neighborhood. Being near the hills, Evergreen is pretty much a 100% residential suburban area.
There are nearby East Asian restaurants and supermarkets and the whole deal, but this is not the kind of place where singles will enjoy spending their nights out for fun. This is pretty much a place to lay down your head to sleep and where you feel safe letting your kids go to the park without getting shot by gangs.
Overall a nice place to live—perhaps a bit overpriced.
Despite this, house prices here are still fairly high, with the median price being around $500 K. (Though some homes in the hills still price over $1 million.) Homes here are those two-story contemporary style homes with adobe walls and red-tiled roofs—a popular 80’s and 90’s style.
One of the big draws in the area for families are the schools. Evergreen Valley High can more than hold its own against any other school in the Bay Area. It has truly amazing test scores. And this standard of excellence permeates all levels of the education system in the Evergreen Valley area.
Now this is not a big nightlife neighborhood. Being near the hills, Evergreen is pretty much a 100% residential suburban area.
There are nearby East Asian restaurants and supermarkets and the whole deal, but this is not the kind of place where singles will enjoy spending their nights out for fun. This is pretty much a place to lay down your head to sleep and where you feel safe letting your kids go to the park without getting shot by gangs.
Overall a nice place to live—perhaps a bit overpriced.
Pros
- Nice New Homes
- Great Schools
- Close to Silicon Valley
Cons
- Expensive
- No Nightlife
- Hillside Problems
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- Country Lovers
- Trendy & Stylish