Updated zoning at the IBM Almaden Research Center at 650 Harry Road in South San Jose. The small rectangular site is designated as IP, or Industrial Park. The large surrounding area is rezoned as OSPH (Open Space, Parklands, Habitat). (City of San Jose)
IBM Almaden Research Center at 650 Harry Road in South San Jose, bird’s-eye view. (Google Maps)
SAN JOSE — The iconic IBM research center in south San Jose and chunks of adjacent empty land have landed a crucial city-approved rezoning — and have also enticed interest from developers in the site’s primary tech hub.
Despite objections and opposition from local residents who demanded the city scrutinize the property more rigorously, the San Jose City Council voted 9-2 to rezone two sections of the IBM Almaden Research Center at 650 Harry Road.
The city panel decided to give 35.1 acres of the site a new designation of “industrial park zoning district” and 565.1 surrounding acres of vacant land a new designation of “open space zoning district.”
The zoning change doesn’t by itself approve any specific projects. The revamped designations, however, pave the way for the location of the IBM research center to be redeveloped or repurposed while the empty land nearby would remain pristine.
Still, even ahead of the City Council’s rezoning approval on Aug. 18, multiple real estate executives have chatted with San Jose planners about potential development opportunities regarding the research center building.
“There have been a number of conversations regarding this property around the future use,” according to San Jose Planning Director Christopher Burton. “IBM has decided to dispose of this site.”
The property became available after IBM decided to close the research hub, shift workers to its Silicon Valley Lab at 555 Bailey Road, on the edges of Coyote Valley in San Jose, and put the Alamden Research property on the market.
“We’ve had a number of different groups that have inquired about different types of uses on this site,” Burton said. “They are looking to maximize the opportunities from the sale of the site.”
Erik Schoennauer, a land-use consultant who represents an investment group that might buy some or all of the site, said the request to rezone the property has two primary goals.
“One is to preserve the open space as it exists today. No changes,” Schoennauer said. “Second, to allow the industrial site to be put back into economic use in an efficient manner quickly. All this request does is align the property with the general plan.”
Hazards could emerge should the property remain vacant over a protracted period, Schoennauer warned the City Council.
“A vacant site would be susceptible to vandalism and homeless people starting fires in the building, which we experience all over our city,” Schoennauer said.
At least 30 people spoke during the hearing. The vast majority expressed opposition to a swift rezoning of the 600-plus acres.
“This is too consequential a decision to rush,” said Linda Hutchins, one of the foes of the rezoning efforts. “This opens a Pandora’s box. Don’t rush. Take your time.”
The research center totals 544,500 square feet, according to Cushman & Wakefield marketing materials. Uses such as industrial, research and development, a data center, advanced manufacturing, and general office could emerge at the site.
“We’re concerned that rezoning this land to industrial park could lead to data centers and other harmful industrial uses,” said Dashiell Leeds, a San Jose resident and a Sierra Club conservation coordinator.
Some speakers were skeptical that the City Council would really be able to keep the empty land undeveloped.
“Open space zoning does not equate to permanent protection,” Lena Drape, a conservation specialist with the Open Space Authority Santa Clara Valley, said during the hearing.
By happenstance, the IBM research hub already has a data center inside the site, according to a speaker who identified himself as Roland, a San Jose resident and former IBM employee.
“The research lab was supported by a massive data center from day one,” Roland said. “Nobody outside of IBM knew that the data center was there because it was inside the building.”
Councilmember Rosemary Kamei urged a delay in the rezoning to give the public a greater chance to become aware of the issues and the proposal.
“What’s the rush?” Kamei said before the public comments. As the hearing drew to a close, Kamei said, “It’s unfortunate that in this circumstance we are not allowing more time to have conversations with the community.”
City Councilmember George Casey, whose district includes the IBM site, noted that the zoning request was inevitable, whether the approval came today or in two weeks as Kamei requested.
“Bad news doesn’t age well,” Casey said. “I don’t want to be performative just to give people an opportunity to vent when it’s not going to actually change anything.”
Those remarks quickly drew boos and protests from some audience members, which prompted Mayor Matt Mahan to gavel the meeting back to order.
“All of us want to see what IBM intended to keep as open space forevermore, to see that protected,” Mayor Mahan said.