Reed Neighbors Notebook

If you've noticed the empty lot at 1598 Willowbrook and wondered what's coming next, you're not alone. Reed Neighbors recently spoke with Aro Homes to learn more about the project and what neighbors can expect over the coming months.

Aro Homes is building an eco-friendly single-family home using a construction process that differs from traditional homebuilding. Designed by the internationally recognized architecture firm Olson Kundig, much of the home will be constructed at the company's Sacramento facility before being delivered in 10 sections and assembled on site over approximately two months. According to Aro Homes, building much of the home in a controlled factory setting helps reduce construction waste, improve energy efficiency and shorten on-site construction time.

The completed home will be Aro Homes' first in the Reed Neighbors area. The two-story, five-bedroom, three-bath residence is expected to be listed for approximately $3.1 million in late September.

"We're excited to bring an Aro Home to Reed Neighbors," said Dylan Masella, Aro Homes' director of sales. "We want to do right by the neighborhood throughout the construction process."

For neighbors who are curious about the process, Aro Homes plans to host several community events during construction and we will share those dates as soon as they become available. Events will include:

• Crane & Coffee – Watch the home’s sections arrive and be lifted into place on Wednesday, July 29 at 10:00 a.m.

• Hard Hat Tour – See the home during construction — ask for a tour anytime in August.

• Twilight Tour – Visit the completed home before it goes on the market in late September or early October.

Founded in 2022, Aro Homes builds net-zero single-family homes designed to produce as much energy over the course of a year as they consume. The company has several projects underway throughout San Jose. 

Other Aro Homes Nearby

• 1246 Blewett Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125

• 15147 Charmeran Avenue, San Jose 95124

• 5608 Harvard Dr, San Jose 95118

• 2132 Jonathan Ave, San Jose, CA 95125

So, if you've ever wondered how a brand new home can arrive in pieces and come together on site, this will be a unique opportunity to see the process up close.

Have an idea for a neighborhood news story? Email us at ReedNeighbors95118@gmail.com

Sometimes the simplest ideas become the most meaningful.

Around 2015, Reed Neighbors resident and artist Karen Adamski (also known as ShamaMama) had an idea. She had heard about wishing trees, where people leave ribbons, notes or coins carrying their wishes, hopes and prayers, but wanted to create something a little different. Instead of wishes, she wanted to spread good juju.

She wrapped chicken wire around the tree in front of her home, hung a small basket filled with colorful strips of fabric and added a simple sign inviting neighbors to participate:

Tie a cloth as you say or think of a wish, a prayer or a positive thought. The breeze will carry the good juju throughout our community and beyond.

She had no grand plan. She simply hoped it might make people smile.

More than a decade later, the tree has become one of Reed Neighbors' most beloved landmarks.

Walk by on almost any day and you'll see neighbors stopping beneath its branches. Families tie ribbons together, children carefully search for the fabric they added years ago and visitors from around the world pause to take it all in. Layer upon layer of colorful ribbons, bits of yarn, old clothing, prayer flags and tiny bells flutter in the breeze, each one carrying its own story.

Over the years, Karen has watched her idea turn into something more meaningful than she ever imagined.

One afternoon she looked out her kitchen window to see a couple standing beneath the tree. After a few moments they hugged, kissed and smiled. When Karen stepped outside and offered to take their picture, the woman happily explained that they had discovered the Good Juju Tree on one of their first dates. When it came time to propose, they couldn't imagine a more meaningful place to begin their next chapter.

Another day, two elderly women knocked on Karen's door. One had traveled from Poland but became stranded in the United States during the pandemic and desperately missed her family. Finding the Good Juju Tree brought her unexpected comfort and joyful tears. Through her friend, she explained to Karen that her hometown had a similar wishing tree, and for a moment, our little neighborhood felt like home.

One time, Karen noticed  something unusual hanging quietly among the ribbons. She took a closer look and discovered it was a paramedic’s badge. She later learned it belonged to a woman's late husband who had placed it there as a way to honor his memory and found comfort each time she walked past.

Of course, Karen doesn’t hear every story firsthand.

Some belong only to the people who tied the ribbon. Others are carried away by the wind.

Karen has even watched squirrels gather pieces of ribbon to build nests blocks away, spreading a little good juju in ways no one could have imagined.

As Karen likes to say, “It’s all full circle, from new beginnings to honored endings.”

Perhaps that's the magic of the Good Juju Tree. It asks for nothing except a moment of reflection. Whether you're celebrating, grieving, hoping or simply taking a walk through the neighborhood, you're invited to pause, tie a ribbon and send a little kindness out into the world. The breeze will take care of the rest.

Visit the Good Juju Tree

📍 3864 Willowood Drive

Grab a strip of fabric, tie it to the tree and take a moment to share a wish, prayer or positive thought. Everyone is welcome.

Want more?

If you want to watch videos, check out Good Juju Tree video and Good Juju Tree & Little Library Update video 📽️

James Frazier Reed (1800–1874)

The original Reed School was located on Reed Street in the downtown San Jose area. It was named in honor of James Frazier Reed, a community leader, in the early days of San Jose. Mr. Reed was born in County Armagh, Ireland on November 14, 1800 and moved to Virginia with his mother in the early years of his life. After working many years as a miner, he moved to Illinois, helped form the city government of Springfield, became wealthy in a flourishing cabinet making business, and served in the Blackhawk War with Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas.

Mr. Reed’s decision to move west resulted in the formation of the Reed-Donner Wagon Train in 1846. The California-bound train suffered many hardships in the Sierra Mountains during the winter of 1846-1847. Although many lives were lost, Mr. Reed’s heroic efforts to organize and lead a rescue party are well known.

The Reed family settled on a 500-acre ranch between First Street and Coyote Creek in what is now downtown San Jose. Subsequent division of the land in 1849 resulted in the naming of Reed, Margaret, Virginia, Martha, Carrie, Patterson, Lewis and Keyes streets in honor of Reed family members. 

The present day Reed School at 1524 Jacob Avenue was opened in 1959 on approximately nine acres adjoining Ross Creek near the Robertsville area of San Jose. The school was named after Frazier O. Reed, grandson of James Reed. 

Many schools built in San Jose during the 1950’s and 60’s were named after prominent individuals. Frazier O. Reed was a partner and president of the James A. Clayton & Co., a real estate and insurance company, president of the California Real Estate Board and the San Jose Real Estate Board, director of First National Bank for 34 years and helped found San Jose Hospital in 1921. During his long career, Reed had a hand in many of the big real estate transactions in the area. 

Both these Reed men were benevolent community leaders who had a vision for San Jose and its surrounding valley. The Reed School community is proud to have its school named in honor of his family.