The San Jos� City Council recently approved suspending the collection of city construction taxes in order to incent the next high-rise office development project and keep pace with growing demand in Downtown San Jos�.
"Today, companies are choosing urban environments to access and attract a talented workforce," said Mayor-Elect Sam Liccardo. "With more than 2,500 new housing units under development and more than 110 tech companies, we are experiencing stepped-up demand from employees and businesses to locate in Downtown."
The High-Rise Development Incentive builds on successful efforts led by San Jos�'s Office of Economic Development, the San Jose Downtown Association, and Downtown banks and property owners to lower office vacancy rates in San Jos�'s Downtown. This one-time incentive seeks to continue those efforts and accelerate investment in more commercial space Downtown. It could reduce construction costs by $800,000 to $1.5 million and help make a potential office high-rise viable in the next two years.
"As the commercial vacancy rate drops below 13 percent, adding jobs Downtown will become increasingly difficult without additional commercial development in the City Center," Kim Walesh, Director of Economic Development and Deputy City Manager. "This one-time incentive is designed to add more businesses Downtown where there is ample transit, housing and amenities." To read more, click here, or contact Lee Wilcox, Downtown Manager.