Retail construction is moving forward at a major mixed-use development in downtown San Jose while the residential component undergoes a significant design change. Level 10 Construction is delivering the first phase of Jay Paul Co.'s CityView project, with the retail portion advancing as the developer evaluates a new ground-up approach for the housing component.
The first phase of CityView is planned to include approximately 35,000 to 40,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space and a parking garage above it. Construction is underway at the intersection of Park Avenue and Almaden Boulevard.
The retail component is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2028. Potential tenants include retail businesses, restaurants and operators in health, wellness and child care. Jay Paul is working with a retail consultant to determine the eventual tenant mix.
The development is being planned to serve several downtown user groups, including office workers, residents, San Jose State University students, convention center visitors and people attending downtown events.
Level 10 Construction is working on the construction program, while DES is involved in the retail design.
Jay Paul's residential plans have shifted from converting existing office buildings into apartments to constructing new residential buildings. The developer had previously evaluated office-to-residential conversion as a way to add hundreds of housing units to the CityView development.
Further analysis determined that the conversion approach would require substantial costs, including seismic upgrades to some existing structures. The developer subsequently selected ground-up construction as the preferred approach for the residential portion.
The new strategy would allow the residential buildings to be designed specifically around housing requirements rather than adapting existing office structures. Solomon Cordwell Buenz is working with Jay Paul on the residential design, which remains under development.
The changes at CityView illustrate the construction and cost considerations involved in converting older office assets to residential use. Structural requirements, including seismic upgrades, can significantly influence the economics and feasibility of adaptive reuse projects.
For developers and construction teams, the shift toward ground-up housing also changes the project delivery requirements, from evaluating existing-building constraints to planning new residential structures, site infrastructure and associated building systems.
The continued retail construction provides an active component of the larger development while the residential plans are refined.
Source: Level 10 Construction.
