Local
Mayfair residents invited to shape plans for MACSA youth center’s return
After a fire destroyed the MACSA youth center in August 2025, neighbors and advocates are pushing to bring the community resource back. Students and families can weigh in at a Thursday session as plans take shape following school district approval in May.
SAN JOSE — Students and families in the Mayfair neighborhood will have a chance Thursday to help shape plans for a rebuilt MACSA youth center, which was destroyed by fire in August 2025.
The community input session is scheduled for 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Mayfair Community Center. Organizers say the goal is to design a youth center that responds to the needs of local young people and their families.
Neighbors and activists have pressed for the center to be rebuilt since the fire. The Alum Rock School District approved the rebuild in May, and community group Somos Mayfair has advocated for retaining the building’s cultural character.
San Jose City Councilmember Peter Ortiz has also backed the effort, describing the former center as a place of safety for young people, including those affected by gang activity.
The push reflects the role the center played in Mayfair, where residents viewed it as an important gathering and support space. The Thursday session will give young people and families a direct opportunity to influence what returns to the neighborhood.