San Jose was recognized with two 2004 Preservation Design Awards from the California Preservation Foundation. The award honors exceptional historic preservation projects for design, construction, planning and technology.

Your Old House: Guide for Preserving San Jose Homes won in the Cultural Resource Reports, Studies, Videos & Computer Software category. The book is a 125-page, in-depth guide that describes how and why to restore older homes in a way that maintains the character of the homes, as well as their neighborhoods. The second award went to the Twohy Building in downtown San Jose won in the Rehabilitation and Reuse category, a city landmark constructed in 1917 and designed by architect William Binder for Judge John W. Twohy as an office building.

The San Jose Redevelopment Agency chose the CIM Group to purchase and renovate the five-story structure. It was a $12.2 million rehabilitation project.