The Endangered 8: 2026-27 

The towering Art Moderne marquee of the historic Burbank Theater continues to stand watch over a once-vibrant but now distressed stretch of Bascom Avenue in desperate need of reinvestment. Numerous failed development proposals by the theater’s current owners have left the building increasingly prone to vandalism, break-ins, and deterioration. New plans submitted to the City of San Jose in July propose conversion to medical offices-- potentially a positive reuse-- but would remove the theater's historic signage, replace the marquee with digital screenboards, cover the building in new metal cladding, and gut the auditorium for a parking garage. These plans are currently under City review but should be rejected for their adverse impacts to the theater’s character-defining architectural features. Project financing remains uncertain, however, and the current owners are also reportedly seeking a new buyer for the property-- unfortunately with an asking price nearly three times more than the $1.6 million they paid for the building at auction in 2021.