2M sf in works for former Fry’s site in North San Jose

A developer has proposed transforming 20 acres in North San Jose that was once home to a Fry’s Electronics and the defunct chain’s one-time headquarters into a mega office complex with 2 million square feet of office space.

San Jose-based Bay West Development has unveiled plans to build four office towers and two parking garages at 550 E. Brokaw Rd., SFYimby reported. The former Fry’s store would be demolished.

A newly released draft environmental study outlines four office structures – including one standalone tower and three double towers connected to a shared podium – with 1.93 million square feet of office space.

A nine-story and a 10-story parking garage containing 1.65 million square feet will be able to serve up to 5,385 cars and 410 bicycles.

The 3.8-million-square-foot project, designed by Los Angeles-based Gensler, would include eight-story offices wrapped by curtains of glass, with white and copper accents. The first and top floors would offer setbacks for open-air terraces.

The rectangular office and garage buildings would span an entire block, connected by greenbelts, a pedestrian walkway, picnic area and plaza.

An amphitheater will occupy the northwest corner of the lot. CBG is consulting as the project’s civil engineer.

Construction is expected to start as soon as October 2023, across four phases. Each phase is expected to last 23 months. Completion is expected by 2031.

Planning reports list the project applicant as Caracol Property Owner LLC.

The spacious property at 600 E. Brokaw Road contains the former Fry’s Electronics store with a Mayan theme, along with the corporate headquarters of the consumer electronics retailer, the San Jose Mercury News reported in 2020.

The property owner, according to Santa Clara County documents, is Caracol Ltd., whose main offices are at 600 E. Brokaw Road. David Fry, a Fry’s Electronics executive, is the general partner for Caracol, according to the California Secretary of State’s Office.

Bay West Development, founded in 1979 by Bill R. Poland, has completed $3.9 billion in projects in California, Washington and Texas, according to its website, and whose development pipeline includes converting a former Fry’s store in Renton, Washington.

Silicon Valley commercial had its busiest year in 2021 as spending on office buildings and research and development properties surged 80 percent to a record $8.7 billion. Spending on office buildings jumped 63 percent to $4.83 billion and more than doubled to $3.9 billion for research and development buildings.

The reason, according to CBRE: “Pent-up demand amid a recovering market.”

[SFYimby] – Dana Bartholomew

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