History & Accomplishments

The Brookwood Terrace Neighborhood Association is a recognized community organization, formed in 1991, by residents who desire to play an active role in improving their neighborhood. As a small community within the City of San Jose, we value the principle of strength in numbers. Government is most responsive to the common needs of a united group of citizens.

History

Brookwood Terrace Neighborhood is one of the oldest communities in the City of San Jose. In the early 1900's, small single family homes first appeared here along the bank of Coyote Creek. Small affordable lots presented an opportunity for many longtime residents and new immigrants to own their first home. During the 1920s and 30s, many of our homes were built with a style reflective of the prosperous times. Ornate trimmings, leaded windows, tall roofs and sculptured ceilings defined the architecture of community which was living the American Dream first hand. This period, however, was not to last. A depression and two world wars changed the face of the neighborhood. Many homes were vacated and later destroyed. New homes were built which tended to be smaller and more practical than ornate. Two more wars and economic hardships further tested the community. In the 1950s, many lots were subdivided and even smaller homes appeared. By the 1970s, some of the larger homes had been converted to duplexes while others were replaced entirely by apartment buildings. All the while, the City of San Jose was seeming to drift farther away from the community. Fortunately, a half century of gray skies were soon to give way. The 1980s brought sunshine back to our city which experienced a rebirth fueled by the prosperity of a valley which gave up its fruit orchards for silicon. Today, Brookwood Terrace is a diverse, multicultural and multi-generational neighborhood which is rebuilding itself.

By organizing our neighborhood, we have gained credibility that has yielded city recognition and community grants. Since 1991, BTNA has received nearly $20,000 in grants and materials from private and public sources. More importantly, community projects have provided a forum for neighbors to meet and become acquainted. We pride ourselves on the many friendships established through BTNA despite the challenges posed by language (English, Spanish and Vietnamese spoken here), or by differences in race, ethnicity and creed. We are a diverse, yet proud neighborhood.

BTNA was founded with a grant from the Community Foundation of Santa Clara County. Additionally, individual neighbors have contributed gifts and donations to strengthen our cause. Fund raising activities are normally directed toward specific projects. Officers and committee members are not paid. Our meetings have included guest speakers such as: representatives of city services, community planners and the Mayor of San Jose. Additionally, we communicate through our newsletter, the Brookwood Terrace News, which is distributed to all residents and partially funded by local businesses.

Past Accomplishments

Assisted the San Jose Police Counter-Narcotics Team by reporting residential drug dealing operations. Neighborhood-watch efforts have resulted in the apprehension of drug dealers and burglars.
Sponsored two Spring Clean-ups where neighbors could dispose of old appliances, tires, and junk. As a result, our neighborhood is cleaner and safer.
Neighborhood beautification projects include funded tree-trimmings, plant give-away programs and two bridge restorations featuring the work of local artist, Rick Haas.
Our "Wiping-Out Graffiti" program continues to succeed in countering blight. We are amongst the first organizations to participate in Our Program to Eradicate Graffiti (OPEG), a community effort to involve "taggers" in graffiti removal.
Exposed slumlords and negligent property owners to the appropriate city services. Many successes have been made in improving living conditions at neglected rental properties.
Planted 15 trees in the Fall of 1994.
Worked with DiNapoli Development Company to ensure the new BROOKWOOD housing development would blend in with our existing community. As a result of our efforts, plans for a proposed concrete sound barrier were scrapped. Instead, we will share a landscaped walkway bordered by trees and shrubs which will afford privacy without dividing the neighborhood.
Active participants in "Weed and Seed" - a program created with federal grant monies to restore inner city neighborhoods while reducing crime and blight.
Presently, we are coordinating the restoration of the William Street Bridge over Coyote Creek. Phase 1 of this project was completed in May 1996 with the installation of 4 antique street lanterns.

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