Street Scene: Rajkovich Way

In grammatical terms, Rajkovich Way is like an abbreviated sentence packed with meaning. Most local drivers know it as a short, but important conduit between Almaden Expressway and Glenview Drive. That's because it's one of a handful of streets that connects newly developed hillside homes with the rest of Almaden Valley.

It's named after longtime apricot farmers, the Rajkovich family. Nick Rajkovich and his son Garrett have developed the rural landscape from rugged countryside into an upscale suburban community. Their name is mispronounced many ways, but the family and those who know them pronounce the name “Rack-o-vitch” (like “rack-o-lamb”). The “j” is silent.

As you enter Rajkovich Way from the Almaden Expressway, there's a new street sign that reads, “Another neighborhood served by San Jose's traffic calming program- for more information call the Department of Streets and Traffic at (408) 277-4304.” Most drivers don't slow down long enough to read it, much less call the number, but if you're passing by on the sidewalk, it's hard to miss.

One of several surface streets connected to the homes on the hill, Rajkovich Way is far busier than most streets of its size and nature. At midday, trucks haul through at top speed, leaving behind a mixed cloud of exhaust fumes and road dust.

Most drivers take the thoroughfare for granted and don't notice the posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour (when children are present, which is most of the day).

Speaking of kids, award-winning Williams Elementary School takes up most of the opposite end of the street intersecting with Glenview Drive. It's named for the late J.S. Williams, a prominent city merchant and civic leader who served on the San Jose Unified School District board for 21 years early last century. Williams passed away in 1964 at the age of 94. But not before becoming the first chain store owner in the western United States with seven Bay Area clothing stores. He also owned the city's first automobile.

Williams would be very proud of the elementary school that bears his name. Williams Elementary is a California Distinguished School and a National Blue Ribbon School.

Principal Susan Walker admits traffic on Rajkovich Way is “a challenge.” But she says, “I know we are one of the few schools with a safety patrol. It's not a sleepy little school anymore.”

San Jose Vice Mayor Pat Dando recently visited the campus along with representatives of the California Automobile Association to kick off the student patrol called “Street Smarts.” The program features a banner hung across the school's front yard fence warning drivers “If you see a kid, slow down!” That's especially sound advice along Rajkovich Way, even if children aren't around.

But most residents who live across from the school grounds say the area is still “a great place to live.” New homeowners Mr. and Mrs. “D. L.” say they are mostly happy with their new surroundings, but are concerned with some “screeching, braking and traffic noise.” Mrs. D.L. says she knows “it's impossible” but would like to see Rajkovich Way closed to through traffic at Glenview Drive for safety sake. She says “super loud motor scooters ridden by local teenagers” scream by her children's bedroom windows and “wake them up at times.” The couple would also like to see the posted speed limit set permanently at 25 miles an hour at all times of the day and night. The “D. L. family” is also very close to ongoing construction of three single-family homes along Glenview Drive just past Rajkovich Way. But they say so far, the project has not been a problem except for the occasional dust storm and some daytime noise from heavy equipment.

A few houses down from the D. L.s's house lives young resident James Park. Part the of the “MTV generation,” he's lived on Rajkovich for 14 years (most of his life) and says he loves it. “The only (noise) problem is in the morning with the school kids,” he offers. “But you can't do anything about that. Otherwise, sometimes (older) kids drive by with their boom boxes, but it's mostly quiet.”

Retired San Jose educator Jim Rauen lives just off Rajkovich Way, along Glenview Drive. He and his wife, Karen and five children have spent the last 26 years in the same house. The Rauens have seen many changes over the last few decades, mostly involving development and traffic issues. The family considered moving to Los Gatos at one time, but Jim Rauen explains their decision to stay put. “We are just plain happy here,” he says.

Rauen credits Vice Mayor Dando with improved traffic safety in the area. A few years back, she obtained a series of stop signs along Glenview Drive, which helped to slow speeders to an acceptable crawl instead of barreling into the Rauen family's front yard, which Jim Rauen recalls happened on two different occasions. Since then, there have been no more scary accidents involving speed, he says.

Rauen also points out that the condominium complexes at the entrance to Rajkovich Way once stirred up a great deal of controversy while in the early planning stages. But after many years of peaceful coexistence with established homeowners, condo residents have become a valued and greatly accepted part of the community.

Real estate figures along Rajkovich vary widely between the more affordable condominiums and several split-level homes (one's for sale) at the other end of the street. Asking prices range between $395,000 for a one-bedroom condo and up to $1.2 million for a five-bedroom home with a private vineyard.

Meantime, there's definitely something poetic about the way the neighborhood somehow works for the good of those who live there and for those who regularly pass on through at top speed.

And, maybe it's okay to take Rajkovich Way for granted because of the role it plays in successfully connecting neighbors and getting children to and from school. After all, its historical identity and solid usefulness leaves many longer streets in the proverbial dust. Just try to remember to take it easy as you zip down the street, especially if you see kids. – By Barbara Luis.