Office tower proposal near Google village pushes ahead

SAN JOSE >> A proposed downtown San Jose office tower not far from the future footprint of Google’s mixed-use village marks a fresh effort at a transit-oriented project near the Diridon train station.

The 15-story office highrise could sprout at 250 Stockton Ave. across the street from a typically busy Whole Foods Market, according to a development plan slated to be floated at City Hall.

“The project has grown in size from our original proposal because we feel it can be successful with more density with its proximity to transit at Diridon Station,” said Don Imwalle, a veteran developer who is president of Campbell-based Imwalle Properties.

When a proposal first emerged in 2019 for the Stockton site, the office tower was expected to total roughly 700,000 square feet. It’s now expected to be about 915,000 square feet, Imwalle said.

The project features a split-tower design, terraces, roof decks and a central courtyard with a lush setting and a large lobby.

The tower was crafted to allow office workers to access a variety of work environments amid coronavirus-linked health concerns, said Edmund Rivera, senior associate and design director at Steinberg Hart, which designed the project.

“This building is the perfect example of how ‘working from anywhere’ can be exemplified within a building by providing a variety of spaces where people can work,” Rivera said. “Office space is changing. It’s no longer just four walls and a roof.”

The revamped plans for the tower bode well for the future of the downtown San Jose’s office sec

tor, said Bob Staedler, principal executive with Silicon Valley Synergy, a land-use consultancy.

“The ongoing strength of the office market looks to continue into 2022,” Staedler said. “Being near transit is a desired amenity by large office users. This project will be very competitive in the market.”

The tower might also benefit from the proposed Google transit village, Downtown West. Google intends to develop a mixed-use neighborhood of office buildings, shops, restaurants, homes, entertainment hubs and cultural centers where the search giant could employ up to 20,000 people.

The proximity of the Diridon train station increases the feasibility of a tower at this location, according to Imwalle.

The Diridon station site currently is a hub for light rail, Caltrain, ACE Train, Capitol Corridor and Amtrak train lines. A BART stop is also expected to connect to the train station. And a project to electrify the Caltrain line would enable a big increase in the number of trains that could run into the station.