Gilroy’s City Council held off on deciding the fate of the
former Youth Center building on Railroad Street, opting instead
last week to form a subcommittee to evaluate options.
Gilroy’s City Council held off on deciding the fate of the former Youth Center building on Railroad Street, opting instead last week to form a subcommittee to evaluate options.
“I’m not sure how many of you have walked through that building, but that building is butt ugly,” Councilman Peter Arellano said during the council’s Nov. 2 meeting. “If you want to rehab that, it’s going to take a lot.”
Arellano agreed to sit on the ad hoc committee, along with Council members Dion Bracco and Cat Tucker.
The youth center building, which dates back to about 1930, has hollow clay tile walls and needs to be retrofitted for earthquake safety. The building has sat vacant at 7400 Railroad St. since January, when the city moved its youth programs to the Gilroy Senior Center. Since June, the youth center has taken up residence at the San Ysidro Park Community Center in eastern Gilroy.
City officials have discussed demolishing the Railroad Street building at a cost of $350,000 to $450,000, much less than the $920,000 needed to retrofit the building. Meanwhile, Santa Clara County Supervisor Don Gage suggested before the Nov. 2 meeting that the city reform the youth center using portable buildings in San Martin that used to house the county courts.
As a result, City Administrator Tom Haglund recommended that city staff move forward on demolition and design and go out to bid on demolishing the Railroad Street building. He also recommended the portables be placed in San Ysidro Park.
But not all council members were convinced that that was the best plan – at least at first. Bracco initially thought it might be wise to salvage the building, noting that it could cost less than building a new permanent structure. However, later last week, he changed his mind.
Councilman Craig Gartman said it appeared that council members had three choices – retrofit the building on Railroad Street, demolish the building and install portables at the Railroad Street site, or demolish the building and install portables at the San Ysidro Park site. Councilman Perry Woodward also brought up the possibility of trying to sell the youth center building.
Haglund said the city could get some federal stimulus money to use on the demolition, but the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development may not allow portables to be used on the railroad site.
Woodward also expressed concern about the old youth center building’s proximity to the railroad tracks, as the California High Speed Rail Commission is considering laying down its tracks next to the current Union Pacific tracks among other alternatives.
One thing that all council members seemed to agree upon was the importance of the city’s youth programs. Gage, who hosts an annual golf tournament that benefits the youth center, said he has seen youths’ lives changed as a result of the programs there. Those include gang members who have gone on camping trips for the first time as a result of city programs.
“You need to talk to the counselors who work with these kids, and some of their stories will bring tears to your eyes,” Gage said. “These kids are being saved.”
Bracco, who serves on the city’s gang task force, said he has heard good reports about the youth center program.
A few youths who use the center said this week that they thought the youth center should stay in San Ysidro Park.
“It’s way better here because of the handball courts,” said Jose Betancourt, 16.
Oscar Guttierrez, 16, said the park would benefit from general improvements and that the bathrooms in particular could use some work.
Mayor Al Pinheiro said at Monday’s meeting that he hoped the subcommittee would help provide a better understanding of the various options.
“I think there were a lot of questions that were asked today that need to be addressed,” he said.
