COUNCIL AGENDA: 11/29/22ITEM: 10.4
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR FROM: Councilmember RaulPeralezAND CITY COUNCIL SUBJECT: SuZaCo Mixed-Use Project DATE: November28, 2022H21-026, HP21-005 & ER21-085 Approved by: Date: 11/28/22
RECOMMENDATION
Accept Staff’s recommendation and approve a Statement of Overriding Considerations
DISCUSSION
Thank you to City Staff, our historic preservation community, and the applicant for working tobring this project forward. SuZaCo brings with it another opportunity to increase our jobs base inDowntown San José with 75,251 square feet of office and retail space. The use is consistent withthe General Plan and complies with the Downtown Employment Priority Area overlay. With SanJosé City Hall on the southeast corner, Miro Apartments on the northeast, and the proposedEcho/Icon project at the northwest, SuZaCo will complete a quintet of active, vibrantdevelopments that will bridge our East Santa Clara Business corridor with the Downtown Core.
Part of the proposed site is located within the San José Downtown Commercial National RegisterHistoric District, designed by architect Frank Delos Wolfe and built in 1934 to house State MeatMarket, a Chinese American business owned and operated by the renowned Kwong-Low family.While the project has unmitigable impacts due to proposed demolition, I am pleased that theapplicant plans to substantially preserve and retain key elements of the original historic building.
Therefore, based on the analysis in the supplemental EIR and the economic benefits this projectwould ultimately provide, I believe this proposal merits Council approval of a Statement ofOverriding Considerations and the project overall.