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Robson Homes Wants to Turn Eggs into Homes in San Jose

  • Bay Area Real Estate Insider
  • Mar 5
  • 3 min read



A longtime San Jose landmark is set to disappear, making way for new housing. Robson Homes has announced plans to redevelop the 75-year-old Olivera Egg Ranch in the Berryessa neighborhood into a 25-home residential community.

Located at 3315 Sierra Road, the 2.7-acre site has been in the Olivera family for generations, operating as a local supplier of fresh eggs and live chickens. But with the family business coming to an end, the land is now slated for a new future.

The ranch’s onsite store will close at the end of March, and if the development is approved, construction could begin soon after.

A San Jose Institution Comes to an End

The Olivera Egg Ranch has been a fixture in San Jose since 1949, when Ed Olivera Sr. first established the business. Originally an apricot orchard, the farm later shifted to egg production as the city expanded.

For many residents, Olivera Ranch represents a vanishing part of San Jose’s agricultural history. Tanya Olivera, who currently runs the ranch store, acknowledged the reality of development in the area.

“There’s nothing of value in San Jose except housing, unfortunately. There’s no such thing as open space anymore.”

Customers, too, are feeling nostalgic. Some have been coming to the ranch for decades.

“We used to come here all the time. That was back in 1996… with the egg shortage, it’s a shame,” said John Westmoreland, a longtime patron.

But as San Jose continues to grow, land like this is increasingly seen as an opportunity for housing, rather than agriculture.

Robson Homes’ Development Plan

The San Jose-based homebuilder Robson Homes has submitted a development proposal to the city, outlining plans to construct 25 single-family homes on the site.

Here’s what the proposal includes:

  • Home sizes: Ranging from 1,976 to 2,771 square feet

  • Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): Some homes will feature attached ADUs up to 444 square feet

  • Garages: Each home will have a two-car garage

  • Design variety: There will be eight different home styles

Robson Homes is known for high-end residential developments, with the average closing price for its properties hitting $3.2 million last year.

If approved, construction on the Olivera Ranch site could take approximately 16 months.

A Changing Berryessa Neighborhood

The Berryessa area was once a patchwork of farms and orchards, but over the past several decades, it has been gradually transformed into a residential community.

The Olivera Egg Ranch is one of the last agricultural holdouts in the neighborhood. The planned development would bring more housing options to an area that has already seen significant suburbanization.

Public transit access is also a factor. While the Berryessa BART station is not within walking distance, it is only an eight-minute drive from the proposed housing development.

Future Outlook for San Jose’s Housing Market

The Olivera Ranch redevelopment comes at a time when San Jose is grappling with housing shortages.

With the Bay Area’s high home prices, demand for new housing remains strong, despite concerns over affordability. Robson Homes has positioned itself as a premium homebuilder, targeting buyers looking for large, well-designed homes in desirable neighborhoods.

While the loss of Olivera Egg Ranch is bittersweet for longtime customers, the redevelopment is another example of San Jose’s ongoing transformation—from an agricultural past to an urban future.

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