Creative Center for the Arts: In Progress
What We Do
We are managing the development of the Creative Center for the Arts (CCA) in Japantown. Designed as part of multi-block mixed use development, which contains housing, retail, an art-infused public park and 15,000 sq ft of community arts space, this facility will provide a permanent home for San Jose Taiko and several other small arts organizations. SVCREATES is collaborating with the City of San José and Shea Properties to bring this project to fruition.
Who We Serve
The CCA will serve the Japantown neighborhood, the regional cultural ecosystem and numerous local arts organizations, artists, and arts patrons by providing below market space and resources for offices, rehearsal space, classrooms, and more.
Why It’s Important
The CCA, as part of SVCREATES ongoing work to support a distributed model of arts facilities throughout our county, is designed to address the unique set of challenges and opportunities that creatives and arts organizations face in Silicon Valley. The environment of experimentation, innovation, collaboration, and diverse thinking attracts and demands a community rich with arts and creative enterprises. At the same time, the prosperity of the region makes available facility space for creative pursuits and arts groups rare and costly. The CCA will become a focal point for creative practice by offering space opportunities for resident organizations and small cultural groups needing back office and rehearsal space and providing unified and cost-saving solutions. The national Nonprofit Centers Network (NCN) has demonstrated the significant financial, programmatic, and communal benefits of such centers, which are becoming more and more common throughout the United States and Canada.
What’s Been Done
- Formed partnership with Williams and Dame in 2014 and subsequent developers Related California and Shea Properties to develop Creative Center in Japantown
- Developed capital plan and business model in partnership with real estate advisors from the Northern California Community Loan Fund and pro bono legal counsel from Latham and Watkins
- Selected team of Ankrom Mosian Architect and Ken Kay Landscape Architects
- Completed design development for the facility and secured City of San José approval of Planned Development permit
- Awarded a prestigious and competitive ArtPlace America grant in 2017
- Secured a 55 year ground lease to provide the site for $1 per year in January 2018
- Collaborated with Shea Properties and City of San José to rescope the project and preserve space for the arts after several setbacks in project timeline and scale
What’s Next
- Secure San José City Council approval of rescoped project
- Support Shea Properties in the construction of the building and the adjacent park plaza
- Complete tenant improvement work on San Jose Taiko studio and spaces for other arts uses
