SAN JOSE — CreaTV has struck a leasing deal that will allow it to move into a big chunk of space in a downtown San Jose building, a move that will bolster an expansion for the nonprofit.
The nonprofit community media center hopes that the move will enable it to attract an array of creative groups and content providers to its new site in the vibrant South First Area, or SoFA district, of downtown San Jose.
“The space we have leased is about twice as large as what we have now,” Chad Johnston, chief executive officer of CreaTV, said Friday. “We are building community through media and technology.”
CreaTV leased about 18,000 square feet in a building with addresses ranging from 38 through 50 S. Second St. that was the former site of a Zanotto’s deli express and a TechShop operation in downtown San Jose.
Brokers Erik Hallgrimson, Brandon Bain, Alex Lagemann, and Carrick Young of commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield arranged the nonprofit’s lease.
“CreaTV has a great reputation in the area, and also has so many great relationships with arts, non-profit, and entertainment groups,” said Lagemann.
The nonprofit leased the entire ground floor of the building and also is using 12,000 square feet of basement space in the three-story property, according to Lagemann.
“The site will be a community center focused on collaboration, creativity, and engagement,” Johnston said. “As the downtown develops, we want to offer a space where San Jose stories can be created and preserved.”
CreaTV is talking with an array of arts and media groups that could become the anchors of the new site, located on South Second Street between East Santa Clara Street and East San Salvador Street.
Among the groups that could be working with CreaTV in the new space, according to Johnston:
— Works / San Jose, a community art and performance center.
— Chopsticks Alley Art, which promotes Southeast Asian culture.
— NorCal Public Media.
— Teatro Vision, a performing arts theater group.
— San Jose Spotlight, a media firm.
— Red Ladder Theatre Co., a performing arts group.
“This will bring about a positive swell of really good and creative endeavors and art,” Lagemann said. “Hopefully, this site will be a linchpin in the area for that.”
CreaTV has also been in discussions with local developers who are active in downtown San Jose about how this new endeavor can become part of emerging efforts to revitalize the Fountain Alley area between Second and First streets.
“We talked to Gary Dillabough about that little section and just making that a really vibrant area,” Johnston said. “The Paseo and Fountain Alley can become really active and vibrant. With thousands of units of housing coming online, we can attract people who want to learn about the creative and civic culture of San Jose.”
CreaTV at present is located in The Davidson Building at 255 W. Julian St. on the edges of the downtown. The nonprofit expects to be in its new spaces sometime during the first three months of 2022. The nonprofit’s endeavors include public access and educational television.
The potential to include multiple established nonprofit, arts, and entertainment groups to the mix in the new space could be a significant boost for the downtown, said Hallgrimson, a vice chairman with Cushman & Wakefield.
“CreaTV will be a great addition to the core of the downtown and helps to activate all sorts of events to bring more life to the downtown,” Hallgrimson said.