A vacant former youth center in East San Jose has been demolished more than a month after a fire halted plans for its restoration.
Excavators knocked down what remained of the Mexican American Community Services Agency (MACSA) building Saturday, breaking the hearts of community advocates who fought to save it. Trustees with the Alum Rock Union School District, which owns the property, previously approved demolishing the building in an emergency vote after the fire, pending a structural report on the damage. The cause of the fire, which happened in the early morning hours of Aug. 29, is still under investigation.
According to the structural report, the blaze destroyed or severely damaged the majority of the main building, with much of the roof having collapsed. At a Sept. 25 school board meeting, Eric Wasinger, senior executive of bonds, maintenance, operations and transportation for the district, said removing the existing walls a layer at a time to test the rebar would be prohibitively expensive. Due to structural damage, even MACSA’s distinctive arches couldn’t be saved.
“The (Division of the State Architect) certified inspector has noted that … ‘demolition should occur to the entire site, including the gymnasium,'” Interim Superintendent Sandra Garcia said in a statement. “Therefore, the district will be proceeding with the demolition of the entire structure and removal of debris to create a safe condition at the site.”
The MACSA youth center, which has been empty for about a decade, was built with state funds. Alum Rock Union School District leased the land to the nonprofit for 52 years for $1 per year, but when the property was turned over to the school district in 2016, it was in a state of disrepair.
Community advocates have been working to raise funds to renovate MACSA since before the fire. In June, San Jose Deputy City Manager Angel Rios, Jr. said between the city and county, they’ve identified $2 million in funding. The City Council unanimously approved $500,000 for the facility contingent on the release of federal funds. Rios, Jr. said the city is committed to the project and if the grant doesn’t come through, it will find alternative funding.
“What we got today is a downpayment in hope,” he previously told San José Spotlight. “Now we got to dial in on what it’s actually going to cost to revitalize it and raise that money. The best response to poverty is access to opportunity and that’s all this is about.”
SOMOS Mayfair and the School of Arts and Culture, representing the Si Se Puede Collective, had been working on an agreement with the school district to lease MACSA. The nonprofits would be responsible for raising funds to renovate the youth center and ongoing operations.
MACSA’s demolition hasn’t destroyed the community’s desire to see it rebuilt as a youth center offering classes, sports and social services. Residents and advocates held a cleanup day on streets surrounding the building Saturday, while also launching a campaign to rebuild it.
“Our hope today is to focus on rebuilding,” Victor Vasquez, co-executive director of SOMOS Mayfair, told San José Spotlight. “If we want to have the responsibility of a place like this, we must continue to take care of the area around it and be a positive force moving forward… focused on being caretakers. There’s a great need in our community to have a space for youth. If we find a way to collaborate and unify, anything’s possible.”
Vasquez said the clean up is the first step in reaching an agreement with the school district for the Si Se Puede Collective to lease the land and rebuild MACSA through community, private and government funding. A presentation to trustees is planned for Oct. 23.
“We want to show progress and that there’s a pathway forward,” Vasquez said. “Hopefully, they also see the benefit of this development. Once we agree, we’re going to be out there together figuring this out.”
ARUSD Trustee Minh Pham is hopeful negotiations with SOMOS Mayfair and the School of Arts and Culture will lead to an agreement benefiting Alum Rock students and the East Side community. Trustee Corina Herrera-Loera said while the fire and demolition brought a physical end to MACSA, this is an opportunity to reimagine what’s possible for youth and families.
“When a committed group comes together with clear intention and love for the community, incredible things can be accomplished,” she told San José Spotlight. “I know with the commitment, effort and desire we will be able to build something lasting and transformational. We owe it to our youth and future generations to create the conditions where they can thrive.”
Contact Lorraine Gabbert at [email protected].
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