Save the Pacific Cultural Center

03/19/2024

Almost to 1000!!!!!! 😁

03/14/2024

UPDATE: Stop the Planned Demolition of Santa Cruz Pacific Cultural Center.

The Santa Cruz City Schools District Board of Trustees is in escrow to purchase the PCC.

They have stated, in their letter of intent, plans to demolish the building and to put in a parking lot and a much smaller classroom space, lacking in the cultural and material history that this magnificent, historically registered building offers with its (amongst other offerings) 40 foot by 70 foot hardwood floor.

Please take a moment and sign the petition and post it and email it to your friends.

http://change.org/SaveThePCC

It doesn’t take much time and has the potential to make an incredibly large difference.

ONE VOICE can make a huge difference to folks who are just trying to do their job efficiently in an insulated room with similar folks.

I spoke at the city school board meeting last night, and I was the only voice there in defense of this building.

Before my comment was heard, Jim Monreal, Assistant Superintendent, began to present the item of approving the purchase of the Pacific Cultural Center to the board.
One of the board members asked about the group of us who had spoken up at their meeting a month ago -they asked if our concerns had been addressed.
As I listened, Jim Monreal assured this board member that yes, indeed, our concerns had been addressed. He said, “Yes. That person was likely someone who had only rented the space before. And we will probably be allowing for community to rent this space as well.“

At that moment, they took public comment, and I spoke. I told them that I was that person, and that no, indeed, our concerns have not been addressed. And that we are aware of the plans to potentially demolish this building and put in a parking lot and a much smaller classroom that can’t possibly compare to this building.

I then read them the petition letter.
They are not allowed to comment on what I shared with them. So someone thanked me, and then they voted. They approved the resolution for purchase of the PCC, and they will stay in escrow for now.

In my current opinion, Jim Monreal, Assistant Superintendent, Business Services is shepherding this through, and he is not from Santa Cruz and is not connected to the history of the PCC. It appears possible that he is just trying to make this property work for the school needs and saving the PCC is just not a priority to him.

Let's make it clear that there are a lot of folks who want this building to remain!!

You can call and email the Santa Cruz City Schools District Board of Education members. There are 7 board members and they are elected! https://www.sccs.net/board_of_education
You have to email them each individually. They can't read it if it's sent to multiple addresses at once.

As well, you can contact Superintendent Kris Munro (831.429.3410 ext 48220 - [email protected]) and Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Jim Monreal (831.429.3410 ext 48224 - [email protected] ).

Every voice counts! Especially if it's a personal reach out!

This is the time! If we can push back hard while they are in escrow and get them to take demolition off the table, there is the potential for them to either use the building or decide that they can’t, and then pull out of escrow and allow community to buy it.

Every voice matters!!
Please sign and share the petition.

Save our Historic Building in Santa Cruz: Join the fight!

03/13/2024

SAVE THE SANTA CRUZ PACIFIC CULTURAL CENTER FROM DEMOLITION!!
Sign the petition!! https://www.change.org/SaveThePCC
And please share this petition far and wide!! Every voice counts!!

Here is what it states:
Save the Pacific Cultural Center!
This beloved space, a hub for arts, movement, and wellness, is facing demolition. Your help is urgently needed!

The Santa Cruz City School District has plans to demolish this registered historic landmark, a vibrant community center with a capacity of nearly 300. It is a beloved space for movement classes, healing workshops, concerts, plays, lectures, and more!

The Pacific Cultural Center (PCC) has been, in many ways, the beating heart of our community. For especially the past three decades, its walls have resonated with the energy of movement, learning, and artistic expression. Countless residents have found a space for healing, growth, and connection within the PCC's welcoming embrace.

Make your voice heard! Sign a simple petition urging the Santa Cruz City School Board to reconsider. Let them know our community cherishes this historic treasure and opposes its demolition.
We have two goals:
* Save the PCC from demolition! We urge the School Board to explore alternatives that preserve this historic gem.
* Keep the PCC a community hub! If they can't utilize it, let them sell it back to a community group to ensure its legacy continues.

TO THE BOARD:
Save the Pacific Cultural Center: A Community Treasure!
We, the undersigned, urge the Santa Cruz City Schools Board of Education to reconsider your plans regarding the Pacific Cultural Center (PCC).

This historic landmark, with nearly a century of fostering community spirit, stands as a vital space for healing, movement, and artistic expression.

From children's dance classes to senior yoga sessions, and community plays to local band performances, the PCC has served generations of Santa Cruz residents of all ages.
It is a vibrant and inclusive hub with a spacious hardwood floor that can accommodate nearly 300 people – a truly unique and irreplaceable gathering space in Santa Cruz.

Losing this cultural gem to a parking lot and a significantly smaller classroom with no cultural or material history would be a devastating blow.

Therefore, we implore you to explore alternative solutions. Repurposing the PCC could be a win-win, providing resources for the school district while preserving this cherished community asset. Perhaps the space could be used for student performances, arts education programs, professional development, and other school activities while continuing to be available for community workshops, classes, concerts, dances, plays and other gatherings.

However, if repurposing proves unfeasible, we request that you abandon the idea of demolition, and we strongly urge you to put the PCC back on the market. This would allow a community group to purchase and preserve it as the community center it has been and that we passionately believe it should continue to be.There are three such community groups waiting in line for it.

We respectfully ask you to engage in dialogue with the community to explore viable solutions.

Together, we can find a path that benefits both the school district and the community.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

https://www.change.org/SaveThePCC

03/13/2024

Update on Pacific Cultural Center

Action needed this evening (Wednesday, March 13) at Santa Cruz City Schools District Board of Education meeting:

The Santa Cruz City Schools District is in escrow to purchase the PCC.
Their letter of intent details plans for demolition of the PCC for the construction of a parking lot and a significantly smaller classroom space -devoid of the cultural and material history and devoid of the grandeur, size, allure, and movement-supportive-flooring of this great hall.

There is a vote this evening during the Board meeting which begins at 6:30 pm at the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, 400 Encinal Street, Santa Cruz.
Public comments are allowed right before the vote (rather than during the initial public comment period which is for items not on the agenda).
I’m not sure how long it will take to get to this agenda item, but I’m supposing it will happen around 7. It could be earlier or later however. I’m not familiar with how long their other reports typically take.

The agenda item is titled:
Resolution #20-23-24 Property Purchase
They are voting on whether or not to approve the PCC property purchase for which they are in escrow — 1307-1313 Seabright Avenue.

I will post a link to the meeting in the comments. You will see the agenda there. There is a Zoom link if you can’t attend in person.
If you click the date, “March 13, 2024,” you will be taken the agenda. The agenda item is 8.2.2.3.
As well, you can download the meeting Book.
You will see: “Download Book” on a computer or in landscape mode on a phone. The topic begins on page 214 of the book, once downloaded.

Please read and consider signing, the petition that is linked in comments here.
Please consider liking the Save the Pacific Cultural Center page for updates.

Our goals are:

1. Appeal to the school board to repurpose and use the PCC “as is” and to also allow it to continue to be rented to community (there are some in the school district who support this and who are looking into the feasibility, regardless of the stated plans for demolition).

2. Or, if it is not feasible for them to use the building, to abandon plans to demolish the building and to put it back on the market for a community group to buy it and hold it as the gem of a community resource that it is.

I encourage us to have a friendly, grounded, yet passionate and persuasive tone with the school board and to model the type of community that we want them to sense is fostered by the existence of the PCC.

In reading the petition, you can get an idea of where I believe we are at in the process and see if you are aligned with this voice.
I’m hopeful that we can have a fairly cohesive voice this evening and a good turnout. Again, if you can’t make it to the meeting you can attend via Zoom.

If the board is going to approve the purchase (for which they are already in escrow) it is important that they are fully informed about the strength of the community voice that is opposed to demolition and wants this building to stand strong another 100 years or more. They need to know this for their calculations regarding how to proceed. This is one of many pivotal moments.

Regarding soundness of the structure::
I have a degree in civil engineering and worked as a structural engineer. I have crawled under this building and documented it extensively. I believe it to be well built and sound. I spoke to a licensed structural engineer who did the same and who came to the same conclusion. This building is ready for community use. If it doesn’t meet the codes for school use it is still completely usable for community uses as it has been for almost a century.

Thank you for reading and supporting with this effort to preserve this historic community treasure.
Please share this post with others!!

Petition to Save the PCC:
https://www.change.org/SaveThePCC

page for Save the Pacific Cultural Center:
https://www.facebook.com/savethepcc

Santa Cruz City Schools District Board Meeting Agendas etc.:
https://www.sccs.net/board_of_education/2023-24_board_agendas__books__minutes__recordings

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03/10/2024

Let's go inside! 🥰

03/10/2024

The upper room..

03/10/2024

Calling all movers, shakers, and community builders! The Pacific Cultural Center (PCC), a beloved Santa Cruz landmark for nearly 100 years, needs our help! This vibrant space pulsates with the energy of dance, yoga, concerts, plays, and other community events, but it's facing demolition.
Imagine the joy of twirling on the historic hardwood floors, or the peace of a community yoga session, or a coffee with a friend around the fountain – the PCC fosters these experiences and so much more.
Let's join hands and find a solution that celebrates the PCC's legacy while supporting the needs of our community. There's a meeting on Sunday, March 10th at 2 pm at the PCC fountain – come together, share your ideas, and help keep this cultural gem alive!