July 14, 2005

STREET SCENEGrimley Lane

Mature landscaping and a rural atmosphere is the norm on Grimley Lane.

The residents on Grimley Lane have seen a lot of changes over the years. The once peaceful street off of Almaden Road is now witnessing the impact of urban sprawl.

The beginning of Grimley Lane abuts with Almaden Road where a hotly contested housing development called Vista Del Cerro is in the process of being built. Twenty-five homes of 3,603 to 4,404 square feet with four to six bedrooms are being built on the 7,000- to 14,000-square-foot lots. Houses have already been built on Barnes and now Grimley Lane is ready for construction. The prices: Smaller models are $1.7 million and the larger homes on the big lots will cost more than $2 million.

Neighbors petitioned the city several years ago to reduce the density change for the new development and remain at the original General Plan of two houses per acre but to no avail.

“I don’t like it,” said Alice Saldivar, a 40-year resident of the street. “They look like condos. But I still like living here. I have good neighbors and it is quiet and peaceful.”

The recently widowed Saldivar raised her two sons on Grimley Lane. They attended Bret Harte and Leland High School and still live in San Jose. Her current companion is Roscoe, a silky-furred Pekinese who is always by her side.

Saldivar’s home is one of the oldest on the street. The country ranch abode is surrounded by lovingly planted flowers and bushes. She remembers hanging out laundry to dry on the side of the yard. A few years ago she sold one of her parcels and reduced the size of her home but still owns a parcel of land next to her property.

Down from Saldivar’s home on Grimley, the Graystone Fire station once stood where the new development is now being built. In operation from 1955 to 1966, it was closed when much of the area was annexed by the city of San Jose. The crew and equipment moved to the newly activated Almaden station.

Driving further up the country street, turkeys guide their young across Grimley Lane between older ranch style homes and more contemporary estate homes. Many are on large lots or have additional parcels of land next to their properties.

At the top of the hill with an unobstructed view of the Quicksilver Park, a gated estate is for sale. With 4,642 square feet, the five-bedroom, four-bath home on a one-acre lot also boasts separate guest quarters. The property also has two three quarter-acre parcels being sold with the house. The asking price: $5,999,000.

“The best thing about living here is the privacy,” said Ryan Guerrettaz who grew up on Grimley during the last 20 years. “We have a big back yard. And most of the neighbors have been here a long time. Everyone knows each other.”

Guerrettaz reports of deer sightings and a coyote running down the hill once in awhile. And some of the residents still have horses reminiscent of a quieter rural existence.

“We tried to fight the new development,” said 11-year resident Mac Saberi about the Vista Del Cerro development at the end of the block. “But we didn’t get anywhere. It’s still pretty quiet and relaxing even with the construction. The best thing about living here is that you still feel like you’re in the country but the city is only 15 minutes away. It really is fantastic living here.”

Grimley Lane is a street where urban encroachment is coming but where the residents are still enjoying some of the last vestiges of rural Almaden.

—By Jeanne Carbone Lewis