SAN JOSE — A new downtown San Jose residential tower poised to be a gateway to the city’s urban core is taking a step forward now that its developers are seeking approval to bulldoze the site ahead of the project’s construction.
The proposed project would consist of a mixed-use housing tower with ground-floor retail and would be constructed in downtown San Jose’s hip and trendy South First Area, or SoFA district.
The project, currently known as Garden Gate Tower, is being planned at 600 S. First St. and is expected to be approximately 27 stories high.
The tower’s location a block north of Interstate 280 makes the housing development a potential gateway to the south end of downtown San Jose and the SoFA, a district of restaurants, bars, clubs, nightspots and live theater.
“It would be groundbreaking to get a tower built next to 280,” said Bob Staedler, principal executive with Silicon Valley Synergy, a land-use and planning consultancy.
The project is expected to include 336 residential units and about 5,700 square feet of ground-floor retail or restaurant space.
In March 2020, Scape, a British developer that specializes in student housing, bought the property and intends to develop it.
Scape, acting through affiliate Scape San Jose, paid $16.5 million for the property, which was sold by prominent local developer KT Urban, county documents show.
To finance the property purchase, Scape obtained a $15 million mortgage from MREF REIT Lender 12, which in turn is controlled by New York City-based Mack Real Estate Group, a major realty investor.
In November 2019, the San Jose City Council approved the 27-story high-rise, which is designed as a slender tower at South First Street and East Reed Street.
The primary focus of Scape is housing for students, according to the company’s website.
Scape was founded on a simple idea, that students deserved better,” Scape states on its website. “For too long, being a student meant having to compromise on quality living.”
London-based Scape said its projects are designed as “inspirational” places for students to live and work.
“We’ll make sure you have everything you need to feel more safe, calm, and at home than any other student accommodation out there,” Scape stated.
Garden Gate Tower would sprout across the street from two other residential developments: Sparq and The Pierce.
“There will be a lot of interest watching to see if the project is successful,” Staedler said. “That will set the tone for the redevelopment of its surroundings.”
