Have you been to the Rose Garden area of San Jose? It is a beautiful park where thousands of local residents enjoy amazing heritage roses, a picturesque site for high school prom pictures, a graduation and wedding venue, beautiful historic homes and more – a true treasure for the City of San Jose.
The Rose Garden is one of San Jose’s oldest neighborhoods. Many of the Victorian style homes date back the the 18th and 19th centuries. The neighborhood is located near downtown San Jose and spans The Alameda, Hedding, University, and Bascom Avenue. Santa Clara University is just a few miles away, right up the Alameda.
History of the Rose Garden
The neighborhood was formed around the actual rose gardens after John Crummey, the Chairman of FMC, subdivided his 25 acre pear orchard and sold the lots for $5,000 each. Prices have steadily increased since then with the average home selling in the past year between $1.5 million to 2 million. In December, the average home sold for 112% over asking price! The architectural styles are typical for the era in which they were built – English Cottage, Norman, Tudor, Bungalow style and Victorian mansions.
In the 1920’s, the City of San Jose purchased 11 acres of what was at one time a prune orchard. The Santa Clara County Rose Society had lobbied to have a portion designated as a rose garden. In November of 1927, the City voted to set aside 5.5 acres of land, while the Society pledged to provide the rose bushes. With that, the Rose Garden was born and officially dedicated in 1937. There are over 4.000 shrubs and 189 varieties of roses today within the garden.
The park is a destination for many high schools for beautiful and locally iconic prom pictures. Thinking of a wedding venue? You can say your vows with the scent of fresh roses surrounding you by contacting the City to rent the space. Graduations are also known to be held there. The park also features a large fountain in the center of the rose bushes. On the weekends, you will 
find families picnicking, BBQing and playing on the huge lawn. Benches are located within the roses where people can sit, relax, reflect and simply enjoy.
Favorite Dining Locations
Due to the close proximity to downtown San Jose, the options for dining are abundant. Park Station Hashery opened in the neighborhood in 2016 serving brunch and comfort food with their burgers as the main draw. They also have frequent food and wine events. Zona Rosa is a small intimate Mexican restaurant with outside seating. The food is freshly made, including the corn tortillas which are the perfect partner with their guacamole for a one of a kind tapa. The guacamole has chunks of delicious bacon and even a pistachio topper. Another neighborhood eatery which also doubles as a grocery store is Zanotto’s. Zanotto’s is a family owned store featuring an amazing meat counter, even more amazing selection of cheeses, but the neighborhood favorite would have to be the sandwich bar. If you are looking for a delicious sandwich, pop in, fill out your order ticket and enjoy.
Some of the Best Education
There are three high schools within the neighborhood boundaries. Abraham Lincoln High is an art and theater based school. Students transfer in from all over San Jose just for the opportunities they provide. Bellarmine College Prep is an all-boys Catholic school where the students excel in academics and sports. The last is a charter school that was formerly known as College Prep and is now changed to DCP Primero High School. In 2017, DCP had a college enrollment rate of 97%.
Things to do
A fun must do is a visit to the Rosicrucian Museum to check out a replica Egyptian tomb, ancient artifacts and view the stars and planets in the planetarium. The shops down the Alameda are hip and trendy, one of the best second hand stores in just around the corner. The Rose Garden Library is a favorite stop for moms, dads and their children. HP Pavilion is the home of the SJ Sharks, along with numerous concerts and shows. You can also visit the shopping mecca of Westfield Valley Fair and Santana Row a few miles away.
Transportation
If you are looking to enjoy all that the Bay Area has to offer, living in the Rose Garden area gives you close access to the Diridon Train Station, located only 8 minutes away, and reliable bus transportation, as well as being close to a light rail station. With jobs coming into the downtown San Jose area, the Rose Garden is going to be a very desirable neighborhood for tech workers looking for a quick and easy commute to work AND downtown night life.
Overall, the Rose Garden area has held onto its turn of the century charm and unique flair that San Jose is known for in mixing history in close proximity in globe changing technology.
Please call me if you would like to know about available homes in the Rose Garden or other areas within Silicon Valley!
Kerry Smith
