Watergarden property at key San Jose site lands buyer
SAN JOSE >> The site of Watergarden, a long-time gay bathhouse in San Jose that the coronavirus forced out of business, has been bought by a local real estate developer.
Briggs Development, acting through an affiliate, has purchased the private gay and bisexual men’s health club at 1010 The Alameda in San Jose, documents filed on March 4 in Santa Clara County show.
“The Alameda is a growing urban village filled with vibrancy and culture,” said Jeffrey Rogers, president of Briggs Development. “We are excited to become a part of that story through this amazing location.”
Watergarden had operated for 43 years, surviving the AIDS crisis, until economic woes unleashed by the coronavirus forced the club to shut its doors in July 2020.
The principal operators of Watergarden, who also owned the property, sold the site for $4 million, county public records show.
“It is with the deepest regret that we must announce our permanent closure due to the COVID19 pandemic,” Watergarden posted on its Facebook page in July. “Due to the ongoing closures of businesses and unknown dates for a possible return to normal, we are not able to reopen.”
The private club said the deadly bug caused Watergarden severe economic difficulties.
“Already being closed for months on end has resulted in grave financial losses,” Watergarden stated in the post. “After being in business for over 43 years, it’s heartbreaking to make this announcement.”
The property purchase was arranged through broker Mark Ritchie, president of San Jose-based Ritchie Commercial, a real estate firm.
“The owners were devastated by being forced to close by the coronavirus,” Ritchie said. “It was the only gay bathhouse operating in San Jose.”
Watergarden’s Facebook page described the operation as being more of a resort than a health club. Ritchie said the property has compelling amenities.
“The gardens, the swimming pool, the jacuzzi, it’s a spectacular site,” Ritchie said. “It has landscaping that looks like Miami.”
San Jose-based Briggs Development, the new owner, couldn’t immediately be reached for comment about the future plans for the property.
Regardless of the future use for the site, the location is excellent, in Ritchie’s opinion as a property expert.
“It’s a fabulous piece of real estate,” Ritchie said. “It’s on the very best spot on The Alameda.”
Plus, the location also benefits from being near the western edges of downtown San Jose, where major development projects are being pondered.
“It’s in the shadow of the Google village, it’s near SAP Center and Whole Foods,” Ritchie said.
The Watergarden property is unlikely to become housing. But it could become an office, retail, restaurant, or some other commercial endeavor, experts say.
“The site has a bright future,” Ritchie said.