San Jose office tower conversion to housing project formally launches
SAN JOSE — A plan to convert a downtown San Jose office tower from offices to housing is officially underway with a formal permit application for the project, which could produce 100-plus homes.
The Bank of Italy historic tower would switch from offices to residences under a proposal from the high-rise’s owner, an alliance of Canada-based global developer Westbank and San Jose-based local developer Urban Community, which is headed up by real estate entrepreneur Gary Dillabough and Jeff Arrillaga.
Westbank filed the formal permit application on March 20 with the San Jose Planning Department, city public documents show.
In January, Dillabough estimated the conversion could produce “125 to 150” residences.
Offices on 11 of the tower’s 13 floors would be converted to residences.
The high-rise, built nearly a century ago in 1925, is located at 12 South First Street next to East Santa Clara Street.
When Westbank and Urban Community bought the tower in 2019, it was one of several sites the real estate allies purchased in downtown San Jose with the