San José State will be expanding student housing next year to the heart of Downtown San José in an attempt to lower commute times and make housing affordable for students.
SJSU held a press conference on Thursday to announce a new housing project at the Signia by Hilton San José where it will convert empty hotel space into affordable housing units for undergraduate students.
The Signia Hotel is located across the street from Plaza de César Chávez Park and is a three minute walk to SJSU.
SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson said the university will lease the property in partnership with Throckmorton Partners to transform the Signia’s South Tower complex into a student community by Fall 2024.
Throckmorton Partners is a privately-held investment platform focused on multi-family housing assets (affordable, student and market rate) according to its website.
“Today we celebrate the opportunity that our students have been asking for and that is for our university to increase our inventory in undergraduate housing in Downtown San José,” Teniente-Matson said. “We're excited to see a Spartan village in the Paseo, bringing vibrancy and light to this area and being right adjacent to (Plaza de César Chávez) is just incredible.”
Teniente-Matson said the support from the city has been tremendous.
She said the San José Downtown Association has consistently supported initiatives for SJSU to expand into the downtown area.
The San José Downtown Association represents more than 2,000 businesses, nonprofits and property owners who work collaboratively to enhance the downtown experience, according to its website.
Teniente-Matson said the Chancellor's Office staff recognizes the importance of reducing commute time and providing affordable housing for students.
She said affordability was a critical element in what they were trying to establish.
Teniente-Matson said the Higher Education Student Housing (HESH) program granted the university $89 million in debt services to allow the university to deliver more beds across the existing and new housing stock.
As part of the 2021‑22 budget package, the state created the HESH program to promote the construction of affordable on‑campus housing. Campuses at the University of California (UC), California State University (CSU) and California Community Colleges (CCC) may apply for grants, according to the Legislative Analyst Office website.
“SJSU is growing, and so is the energy surrounding what our downtown can become,” said San José Mayor Matt Mahan. “A building that has been sitting empty will soon be full of life as 800 young people move in.”
Patrick Day, vice president for Student Affairs, said SJSU is moving forward and more into downtown.
“With a waiting list of 600 plus students that I was looking at in the summertime, we definitely need more housing. That waiting list is telling us that students who want to come to San José State want to live on or near campus and we’ve got to meet that demand,” Day said.
He said not only does SJSU need more student housing but also needs to create more affordable options and this project allows the university to create regular student housing, but also some affordable opportunities in this space.
Omar Torres, San José city councilmember and SJSU alumnus, said unfortunately students who live around campus have to experience substandard living and landlords who do not maintain their property.
Torres said it was an honor to vote for the extension of the hotel to be converted into student housing.
“The acquisition of Signia by Hilton San José by SJSU is a significant development and it aligns with our vision to create an environment that exposes students to a wealth of opportunities while urban living,” Torres said. “Downtown living offers a unique blend of cultural, artistic and economic experiences and we believe this investment will greatly enhance the overall student experience.”
Torres said the proximity of institutions like the San José Museum of Art, concert halls, theaters and the Tech Museum will provide our students with access to a better understanding of different cultures and educational experiences.
Charlie Faas, SJSU vice president for Administration and Finance, said in the next seven to eight months the Signia by Hilton San José will be redesigned into a student-housing building.
Faas said 700 to 800 students will be able to live there and will have dining facilities, gaming and study lounges, meeting rooms and a gym.
“We don't want the students who will live here walking all the way over to campus to get their meals, so there will be meal options here,” Faas said.
Faas said UPD will be monitoring what's going on up and down the Paseo, making sure it's well lit and safe.
“The whole idea of being here and being close to, whether it's Nirvana Soul, a block away or clubs on South First Street, it's good urban energy,” Faas said.
