"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."
"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."
A vacant Mexican American Community Services Agency (MACSA) youth center in East San Jose was demolished more than a month after an early-morning fire on Aug. 29 halted restoration plans. A structural report found the blaze destroyed or severely damaged the majority of the main building, with extensive roof collapse and unsalvageable arches. The Division of the State Architect certified inspector recommended demolition of the entire site, including the gymnasium, and the Alum Rock Union School District proceeded with full demolition and debris removal to render the site safe. The building had been empty about a decade; the property reverted to the district in 2016, and community advocates had been raising funds, with roughly $2 million identified by city and county officials. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Read at San Jose Spotlight
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