December 9, 2004

STREET SCENENikulina Court

Homes built on Nikulina’s western bluff boast views spreading from Almaden Valley to downtown San Jose. Photos by Justin Petersen

Thirty years since Elwood Leep broke ground developing the friendly subdivision south of Simond’s Elementary School, west of Trinidad, Nikulina Court remains above the rest—literally.

“When we moved up on the hill it was like moving to paradise,” said Nikulina pioneer Tony Cedolini. “All the noise we experienced in our other house just stopped. There were these magnificent views of the entire city and great wildlife walking through our backyard.”

The view from Nikulina extends over Almaden Valley with a bird’s eye view of downtown San Jose. Residents share their yards with local natives, including turkey, raccoon, fox and deer. According to Cedolini, squirrels appear in abundance as well. And despite a relocation project, which sent 13 specimens to Fremont, Cedolini vows, “squirrels keep coming.”

Neighbors Ben Leone and Karen Fierravanti agree that wildlife adds to the Nikulina experience. “When we first moved here,” said Fierravanti, “we heard these piercing screams every morning. It took some time before we realized the noises were peacocks and not a neighbor teaching her children discipline.”

“It’s like the deer are waiting for your flowers to bloom,” added Leone. “Each spring we get this one particular flower to grow. Last year I walked outside and saw a deer inspecting it. He looked up at me, thought for a minute and decided to chomp the thing. Then he took off running.”

All agree that this is what makes life interesting.

“We’ve seen just about everything,” summed Fierravanti. “You never know around here. A trip to the garbage can is an adventure. You might find a raccoon or you might find a skunk.”

The Elwood property was originally part of Nick Rajkovich’s parcel, but subsequently was acquired and developed into several hundred semi-custom homes, hovering—at that time—around $50,000.

“You could buy land for a song,” said Cedoline, who bought designs and built his Nikulina home in 1984 after taking six months off from his private psychology practice.

Now, homes beneath Nikulina, which sold for $50,000 in the 1970s, push $800,000 while a dwelling on the peerless hillside can fetch a cool $2 million.

“Elwood had envisioned something special of Nikulina,” recalled Cedoline. After completing the division below the hillside, Elwood ceased in operations for 10 years, holding Nikulina for a future endeavor, he hoped would create a unique haven of luxurious homes, secluded in locale but included in accessibility. Yet, following heavy rains in the early 1980s, Elwood agreed to auction off the parcels, sensing a looming liability.

The land was gone in two weeks. Priced to sell at approximately $100,000 to $120,000, Nikulina’s plots “sold like hot cakes,” said Cedolini. Several buyers sought to build their dream home, while developers such as David Pitzen harbored investment plans.

The process—building substantial homes on hillside lots—raised eyebrows amongst city officials.

“I find this to be totally unacceptable,” said former City Councilman Bob Putnam confiding to the Mercury News in 1987. “I think on a clear day [the 5,195 square foot home] can be seen from Oakland, if not Redding.”

Debate spawned over a discrepancy in the city’s measurement policies. In order to build a larger house, the developer, Pitzen, had acted on a loophole in the city of San Jose’s building codes. The code stated that architects might use retaining walls and planter boxes to raise the theoretical ground level of a home.

As a result, the home—which now belongs to Leone—is outfitted with vestigial planter boxes that are approximately 30 feet tall. The home’s height, just 29 feet high at street level according to the city, stands at nearly 60 feet from the hillside.

More than a decade later, tempers have cooled and the house remains to the benefit of the Leones.
“As far as the city is concerned, I don’t have a downstairs,” said Leone, a semiconductor design specialist. “It’s rather smart, I think.”

“Nikulina is super quiet,” he continued. “Naturally, in a cul de sac there is very little traffic. And with the views of downtown San Jose, it’s an ideal spot to watch Fourth of July fireworks. We see several displays from here. The whole family comes up every year.”

“It’s also a great street for walking,” said Leone. With several homes set greater than 20 feet below grade, trudging up the driveway is in itself a workout.

“It’s like nature’s treadmill,” he finished.

According to Fierravanti, word is spreading.

“I see one man on a regular basis,” she said. “He rides his bike up and down, up and down.”

Plopped along the hillside, each of the 12 lots average about .75 acres in livable space. As a result, and in conjunction with steep grades to the rear, many homes split levels, one home measuring six stories.

Another charming oddity is the architecture. Several homes maintain an efficient tract home appeal, while two in particular look like Malibu transports. Light pastels and contemporary structures make for chic and unique abodes on Nikulina.

Socially, neighbors maintain private, individualized lifestyles. Many residents are career-oriented working professionals, designating the majority of their free time for immediate family.

“When we first started building the house here,” said Cedolini, “we would put on a barbecue every Friday night.”

“We don’t do much anymore. Everybody’s pretty friendly, but we are just very busy now,” he continued, noting that the street houses doctors, several experts in technology, an artist and a high school administrator.

Remote, serene and private, Nikulina Court surely panned out in the eyes of Elwood, who set it aside. It’s close enough to see, too far to touch and stands alone above Almaden Valley.

—By Justin Petersen