Mission San Jose District
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The largest of the planning districts, Mission San Jose, like Niles, consists of hills to the east and flatlands to the west. Here, however, an additional, large, isolated hill rises in the northwest portion of the district and is home to a sparse new housing development. Generally, the flatland is developed with commerce and with older homes, and new houses are currently being built in the formerly undeveloped hills. Unlike Niles, the commercial area is spread out along the lengthy Mission Boulevard which separates the hills from the flatland.There is not a strong feeling of center, and yet a certain cohesion is evident. The older homes here (largely dating from the 1950s-70s) are larger and more commodius than those of Niles and proudly display beautifully mature gardens and palm-lined streets. In contrast to these are the new residential developments rising up the hills. These tasteless monster homes are densely packed and do not have the modest feature of mature gardens to screen their ostentation.
Old farming features such as dilapidated barns located in the vicinity of new, expensive homes are nostalgic reminders of Fremont's agricultural past.
It will come as no surprise that the defining feature of the Mission district is its namesake, Mission San Jose, an imposing 18th century adobe church and refectory building (see historical discussion). The Mission San Jose building sets the mood and model for the district. Many of the residential, commercial, and religious structures reflect it in their mission style rhetoric.
Other nobable features are Ohlone College Campus picturesquely located at the base of the hills and the extensive Mission Peak Region Preserve located in the hills.
Highway I-680 defines the eastern and northern boudaries of the Mission district. Undeveloped hills flanking the highway give it a rural appearance. When driving along 680, one has the impression of being beyond city limits: it is inconceivable that one is in fact near the center of a substantial city.