San José City Landmarks

The Schiele Subdivision and Alameda Park residential neighborhood developed as two adjacent but related residential tracts, with portions of the Schiele Subdivision underway in the late 1880s and the final build-out of Alameda Park occurring by the start of World War II. Both tracts were established within the much larger unincorporated lands known as Alameda Gardens, which had been created by 1850 and was located between the city of San José and the town of Santa Clara. The district reflects residential development patterns typical of San José's suburban expansion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the western portion of the city’s Central Planning Area.

The neighborhood is distinct within the larger city due to the architectural character of its small residential properties. It retains an intact visual unity, characterized by moderate-sized one-story houses with period detailing, set on lots typically around 6,000 square feet in size. The architectural styles within the district range from Victorian-era designs, including Queen Anne and Stick style homes, to Arts and Crafts, Neoclassical Revival, and various Revival styles from the interwar period. The district’s period of significance extends from 1889 to 1941, during which the neighborhood evolved into a cohesive residential enclave.

The district also has a distinctive tree canopy, established in the 1920s, which creates a unique visual and environmental character. The overall setting is further defined by the inward-facing streets of Schiele, Harding, and Pershing Avenues, giving the neighborhood a sense of separation from the adjacent commercial areas along The Alameda and Stockton Avenue. The neighborhood's architectural and historical integrity has been well preserved, with most of the original residential structures remaining intact, contributing to its overall historic character.

-Adapted from 2024 DPR Form, Franklin Maggi & Krista Van Laan, authors