255 W Julian Street
In Design
255 W Julian St, San Jose, CA 95110
Project Overview
• Project Type: Market-rate
• Owner/Developer: Westbank
• Presented to our members: June 2025
External Links
Catalyze SV evaluates project sustainability, equity, and vibrancy. Learn about our project review process.
255 W Julian Street Project Scorecard
255 W Julian Street, also known as the Arbor, is a proposal for an 18-story, 600-unit mixed-use development. The first floor allocates 13,100 square feet for commercial uses while the remaining floors are residential. The project features 4 stories below grade, accommodating 318 parking spaces. A bicycle room located above ground provides 146 long-term storage spaces while short-term bike parking is scattered around the site. Plans include space for an open plaza between the proposed structure and the existing Davidson building. Resident amenities include a pool, multiple community rooms, a pet wash, and an outdoor dog run.
255 W Julian Street scored an overall 4 out of 5 from our Project Advocacy Committee members.
Community Score: 2/5
While Westbank has engaged with various groups regarding the project's unique architecture and design, a key concern among our members was the limited broader public outreach and involvement. Despite community meetings being noticed by the City of San José, public attendance was low. Members acknowledged that the project's location, which lacks many immediate residential neighbors, might contribute to the lack of community interest and low turnout. The developer's absence from our Project Advocacy Committee meeting was particularly disappointing, especially since Catalyze SV provides an easy way for developers to communicate with and present to our members. Westbank is a well-resourced developer that should be capable of conducting more comprehensive outreach efforts. We recommend that developers engage with diverse constituencies, particularly when traditional neighborhood outreach yields limited responses. As always, we’re happy to advise on how to do that.
Vibrancy Score: 5/5
Our members are greatly impressed with the many ways 255 W Julian Street intends to enliven the public realm. The ground floor activation stands out as a particular strength. With retail spaces opening onto thoughtfully designed plazas and no ground-floor parking, the project creates an engaging streetscape that invites pedestrian activity. The extensive retail component, roughly 13,000 square feet, will activate the street level and provide daily amenities for both residents and the broader community. Our members particularly appreciate the wide sidewalks that curve inward toward the project along Terraine Street, creating an inviting alcove that draws people in. This design element, in addition to the green roof features and planted columns around the perimeter, creates a visually appealing streetscape that enhances the pedestrian experience. Our members also appreciate the architectural philosophy and broader goals behind the project.
Transportation Score: 4/5
Our members are pleased with several aspects of 255 W Julian Street's transportation features, particularly its strategic location and reduced parking. The project demonstrates a commitment to sustainable transportation by taking advantage of its proximity to Downtown San José and multiple transit options. The site's proximity to light rail and other public transportation options, combined with Julian Street serving as a direct entrance to Highway 87, provides residents with connectivity for both local and regional travel. Our members commend the project's parking ratio of 0.5 spaces per unit and the decision to locate all parking underground, leaving plenty of space above for pedestrian activity. However, our members identify bicycle parking as an area needing improvement. With 146 bicycle stalls proposed for approximately 600 units, the project provides roughly one bicycle parking space for every four units. Several members expressed a strong preference for a 1:1 bicycle parking ratio.
Intensity/Zoning Score: 5/5
With over 600 units proposed on just 1.8 acres, the project achieves a density of approximately 333 units per acre. Our members commend the developer for pursuing density in this Downtown location where it has shockingly been lacking, recognizing that vertical development is essential for meeting regional housing demands without consuming additional open lands. By locating 600 new homes on a compact downtown site, the project preserves land elsewhere in the region for open space, agriculture, or habitat while providing homes close to employment centers and services. The project's density represents a significant improvement over typical suburban development patterns, and even improvement over nearby sites that are only three stories. This proposed project demonstrates how urban infill can accommodate substantial population growth that enhances neighborhood character.
Sustainability Score: 5/5
Sustainability is where 255 W Julian Street sets itself apart from other projects in San José. The project's pursuit of LEED Platinum certification represents the highest standard of green building practices, one that Silicon Valley needs to see more of. We encourage the developer to maintain this certification goal throughout the entire construction process to ensure these standards are achieved. While we are starting to see it more frequently in residential projects, the use of mass timber construction is a standout feature that our members enthusiastically support. Mass timber offers a renewable alternative to relying solely on steel and concrete. The detailed modeling required for mass timber projects can lead to faster construction timelines and reduced waste, creating both environmental and efficiency advantages. Some members expressed great appreciation for the thoughtful incorporation of indigenous plant communities, including oak woodlands, savannas, and alkali meadows that historically characterized the Silicon Valley region. The inclusion of keystone species, such as coast live oaks, which once constituted 21% of the area's tree species, and the potential for Valley Oak restoration, represents meaningful ecological healing. Additional sustainability features that our members commend include comprehensive water reuse systems and all-electric design.
Affordability Score: 2/5
Our members express significant concern regarding the lack of detailed affordability information for 255 W Julian Street. While we understand that the project will comply with San José's inclusionary housing requirements, the absence of specific details regarding affordability raises concerns about a critical issue in Silicon Valley. When it comes to market-rate projects, our members consistently advocate for integrated, on-site affordable housing that creates more diverse communities. Our members are prepared to re-score this category at a later date once Westbank finalizes the project's affordability information.
Legacy Score: 5/5
255 W Julian Street takes a sophisticated approach to legacy that extends beyond traditional historic preservation to encompass both our built heritage and the deeper ecological history of the Valley. While not directly tied to this project, our members appreciate the adaptive reuse of the neighboring Davidson building. Additionally, our members are particularly moved by the incorporation of native plant communities that reflect Silicon Valley's pre-development landscape. The project's dual approach to legacy—preserving both built heritage and the rekindling of ecological heritage—honors the full spectrum of the region's past.