Providing a fun and safe experience for visitors to downtown San Jose is the top priority of a new proposal for an entertainment district in the city’s urban core.
Leading this development effort is real estate mogul Gary Dillabough, who believes that as San Jose’s safety improves it will soon be ready for a central entertainment area for locals and visitors alike. to gather. City leaders hope that by increasing visitors to the area it will help revitalize struggling local businesses.
“It first begins to have things like good weather, has physical infrastructure, has a million people in the periphery… Because of its size and its purchasing power, San Jose can a lot of different things that are really good,” Dillabough told San José Spotlight. “I don’t think we’re far from doing that.”
Dillabough, who is the founder of Urban Community, a real estate development firm with several downtown projects, said that with the combined forces of more than 25 downtown areas, San Jose could host 54,000 guests on any given night.
Looking ahead to the planning stage of the proposed entertainment district, Frances Wong, spokeswoman for the visitors bureau Team San Jose, said the city-owned facilities will provide an initial foundation for the future thriving city center.
“We already have the city layout necessary for a designated entertainment and convention district,” Wong told San José Spotlight. “With such a proposed district, we will better integrate the visitor experience and economic spending downtown.”
The desire for an entertainment district comes at a time when downtown San Jose is facing an uphill struggle to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Many businesses have seen a dramatic drop in revenue and some that closed during the pandemic have never reopened. The Tabard Theater recently closed its doors after being in operation for over 20 years.
Derrick Seaver, CEO of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce, has lived downtown for more than a decade and is an advocate for refreshing the area. Seaver said she enjoys many of the events, such as the First Friday art walks and the SoFa Street Fair, but she would like to see more frequent events throughout the year.
“The big change we want to see is just about consistency,” Seaver told the San José Spotlight. “People expect the brand, like First Friday, but what is activated on Tuesday in August?”
A downtown for everyone
Elizabeth Chien-Hale, a downtown resident who serves on the boards of the San Jose Downtown Residents Association and the San Jose Downtown Association, said she often visits local venues like the 3Below Theater and attends events like San Jose Jazz Festival and Cinequest. Like Seaver, he said the lack of promotion for events taking place in downtown San Jose limits the number of attendees.
“We now have a variety of entertainment options downtown. However, I think what will build a loyal fan base is the continued delivery of quality performances in any area of entertainment,” Chien-Hale told the San José Spotlight. “Additionally, we need supporting infrastructure, such as easy—and hopefully free—parking and good dining options before or after the show. I think we sold the package.”
An entertainment district is more of an idea than a formal structure built by cities, according to Nanci Klein, San Jose’s director of economic development and cultural activities.
It’s unlikely the city will make any policy or zoning changes to help Dillabough’s idea come to life. For example, years ago the city allowed larger night clubs, which drew hundreds of young adults downtown on some nights, he said. But those people sometimes engage in disruptive and less legal activities, he recalled.
“We want to be a different kind of downtown,” Klein told the San José Spotlight. “Not just a downtown specifically for 20-year-olds, but a downtown for everyone.”
To bring “world-class” talent to downtown San Jose as part of the entertainment district envisioned by Dillabough, he said venues need to smooth out the lumps from the city’s events calendar. Venues like the SAP Center already attract top acts, but Dillabough said the Sharks arena can’t carry downtown alone.
“We have this lumpiness of many experiences,” Dillabough said. “So first we made it more secure, and then we removed this lump.”
Klein said this year, San Jose had 120 events in 300 days, which is close to pre-pandemic levels. But there is always room for more visitors, he added.
“The entertainment district itself is here, the foundation, the big elements,” Klein said. “We need to add it and connect it, and look for opportunities to attract more.”
Contact Sonya Herrera at [email protected] or follow @SMHsoftware on Twitter.