1010 The Alameda in San Jose, exterior of The Watergarden site. Briggs Development intends to transform a long-time gay bathhouse near downtown San Jose into an office building with plenty of outdoor workspaces and gathering areas that workers seek in a world jolted by the coronavirus.
SAN JOSE — Briggs Development intends to transform a long-time gay bathhouse property near downtown San Jose into an office building with plenty of outdoor workspaces and gathering areas that workers seek in a world jolted by the coronavirus.
Economic setbacks unleashed by the deadly bug forced Watergarden’s operators — a group that also owns the property — to permanently shut the doors of the private health club for gay and bisexual men.
Exterior of 1010 The Alameda in San Jose, former entry area for The Watergarden site, concept. // Briggs Development
The closure ended 46 years of operations of the gay bathhouse at 1010 The Alameda, which is just a few blocks from the footprint of a proposed transit village being developed by Google.
Briggs Development, acting through an affiliate, Alameda Commercial, paid $4 million for the property, public documents filed on March 4 show.
Now, the new owners of the property have begun to sketch out some concepts for how the site might look after it’s been redeveloped as an office building.
The redevelopment of the building, which will largely retain the exterior structure, the concepts show, is being fashioned in a way to keep in mind what tenants and their employees might prefer in the wake of the social distancing restrictions and other concerns.
“We believe some tenants will prefer office space with fresh air from operable windows, fewer touchpoints, single-story construction, and abundant outdoor meeting and gathering areas,” said Jeffrey Rogers, president of Briggs Development.
1010 The Alameda in San Jose, showing a new office development with large outdoor workspaces and gathering areas, concept. // Briggs Development
Mark Ritchie, president of San Jose-based Ritchie Development, a commercial real estate firm, arranged the transaction for the purchase of the property.
“It’s a fabulous piece of real estate,” Ritchie said. “It’s on the very best spot on The Alameda.”
Plus, the location also benefits from being near the western edges of downtown San Jose, where major development projects are being pondered.
“It’s in the shadow of the Google village, it’s near SAP Center and Whole Foods,” Ritchie said.
Outdoor workspaces and common areas for work gatherings at 1010 The Alameda, a proposed new office development, concept. // Briggs Development
The concepts show a large gathering area and outdoor workspaces on the spot where a pool is currently located at The Watergarden site.
“This ‘Post-COVID’ type of office product is what we plan to offer at 1010 The Alameda along with a location near walkable amenities, public transportation, and ample vehicle parking,” Rogers said.
