Support Affordable Housing for Artists Speak up or send an email!

If you’ve been to the SoFA District in the past few years, you’ve probably seen posted notices of the Gateway Tower development at the confluence of South First, Market, and William Streets. This project received approval from city officials a number of years ago, but stalled out due to COVID and rapidly changing economic factors.

Tomorrow, the San José City Council will vote on a plan to leverage local, state, and federal dollars to develop Gateway Tower as 15 stories of 100% affordable housing. We don’t need to tell you what a game changer this could be for local creatives and others in the “missing middle,” who are rapidly being forced out of San José by the high cost of living.

In even better news, Downtown Councilmember Anthony Tordillos has authored a memo co-signed by Mayor Mahan and Councilmember Cohen to offer right of first refusal to local, SoFA-based artists for 10 low-income, rent-restricted units in this project. (You can read the memo here.)

This proposal is the direct result of sustained advocacy from SJAA and others in our creative community, and it could mark a significant shift in the City’s mindset related to the arts.

SJAA is excited to support the Tordillos-Mahan-Cohen memo, and we hope you will join us to help get it across the finish line. Please consider attending the meeting and speaking during public comment. You can also send an email to the Mayor and Council here or use the message below as a template.

WHAT: San José City Council
WHEN: Tuesday, September 30, 2025, 1:30pm (Item 8.2 to be heard later in the afternoon)
WHERE: Council Chambers @ City Hall, 200 E Santa Clara Street

Coming by car? Validated parking is available in the City Hall garage (accessible from 6th Street). More of a public transit rider? The VTA 22, 63, 64, and 65 bus routes all stop right outside, and the Light Rail line is right down the street. Prefer to roll at your own speed? Bike lockers and racks are also available.

And if you’ve got a lot of stuff going on, no worries! You can follow the meeting live on Zoom.

Thank you in advance for elevating our advocacy!

SUBJECT: City Council 9/30/2025 – Item 8.2: Gateway Tower Project

Dear Mayor Mahan and City Council,

I am writing to express my support for the memo from Councilmember Tordillos, Mayor Mahan, and Councilmember Cohen related to Item 8.2 on your agenda for Tuesday, September 30, 2025, which would offer right of first refusal to local, SoFA-based artists for 10 low-income, rent-restricted units in the Gateway Tower affordable housing project.

As stated in the memo, this project creates an opportunity for “a unique form of housing in which artists can live, collaborate, and create in the same communities they bring to life with their art each day.” The proposal from Councilmember Tordillos et al. could be a game-changing moment for local artists who are rapidly being forced out of San José by the high cost of living.

Please approve the Tordillos-Mahan-Cohen memo to help keep creativity alive in our city!

YOUR NAME
YOUR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT/NEIGHBORHOOD

EMAIL TO:
agendadesk@sanjoseca.gov,mayor@sanjoseca.gov,Matt.Mahan@sanjoseca.gov,district1@sanjoseca.gov,Rosemary.Kamei@sanjoseca.gov,district2@sanjoseca.gov,Pamela.Campos@sanjoseca.gov,district3@sanjoseca.gov,Anthony.Tordillos@sanjoseca.gov,district4@sanjoseca.gov,David.Cohen@sanjoseca.gov;district5@sanjoseca.gov,Peter.Ortiz@sanjoseca.gov,district6@sanjoseca.gov,Michael.Mulcahy@sanjoseca.gov,district7@sanjoseca.gov,Bien.Doan@sanjoseca.gov,district8@sanjoseca.gov,Domingo.Candelas@sanjoseca.gov,district9@sanjoseca.gov,Pam.Foley@sanjoseca.gov,district10@sanjoseca.gov,George.Casey@sanjoseca.gov,hello@sjartsadvocates.org