E
rik Hayden, a leading Bay Area real‑estate developer, recently launched a 176‑room Marriott TownePlace Suites on West San Carlos Street and secured $112.5 million in construction financing for the nearby 278‑unit Aquino apartment complex, whose total cost is projected at $135 million. Hayden is the founder and managing partner of Urban Catalyst.

    **Interview Highlights (BANG)**

    - **Downtown San Jose’s “it” factor**: Hayden notes that the city’s appeal has risen steadily over the past two decades, especially in nightlife, but still lags behind its peak in 2019.

    - **Past vs. present**: Historically a daytime office hub with limited evening activity, the area now buzzes after dark, yet daytime foot traffic remains low.

    - **Key challenges**: Overcrowding of homeless populations, especially around St. James Park, and a need to attract more office workers back to the city.

    - **Housing strategy**: While 25,000 units were once discussed, Hayden believes a realistic goal is 25–30 high‑rise towers, adding density and residential life to the downtown core.

    - **Development focus**: Downtown West holds most potential, but vacant lots and low‑density parcels across the city also offer opportunities.

    - **Market conditions**: High interest rates, labor and material costs, and stringent California regulations inflate construction expenses. New CEQA rules may slightly ease costs, but overall the market remains strained.

    - **Rebound outlook**: Development activity is picking up, though the market has not fully recovered; optimism is growing.

    **Erik Hayden Profile**

    - **Company**: Urban Catalyst

    - **Role**: CEO

    - **Age**: 46

    - **Hometown**: Portland, Oregon

    - **Residence**: Los Gatos, California

    - **Education**: B.S. in Electrical Engineering (University of Washington), Math minor

    - **Family**: Married nearly 20 years to Tandem; four children

    **Five Quick Facts**

    1. Long‑time musician; current project is the Ryan Reynolds Band, releasing a country album on all streaming platforms.

    2. Strong ties to construction trades; founded Fluid Dynamics Plumbing, serving residential and commercial clients in the South Bay.

    3. Completed over 800 Orange Theory Fitness classes, attending more than 35 studios worldwide, including Barcelona.

    4. Met his wife at Los Gatos Brewing Company, where she worked as a waitress; he left his number on the tab.

    5. Enjoys gardening and cooking, though he struggles to get his kids to eat the vegetables he grows.