Mexican Heritage Plaza

The Mexican Heritage Plaza is a unique community and cultural arts facility located at the corner of Alum Rock and King in San José, in the heart of the area where Mexican Americans settled in San Jose in the mid-19th century.  The site formerly housed a grocery store that was the target of one of the first boycotts for farm workers’ rights organized by César Chavez.

The Plaza features a theater, pavilion, art gallery, classroom space, and an outdoor square and gardens built in the architectural style of a traditional Mexican plaza. The Plaza hosts plays and other performances, art exhibits, community events, corporate meetings, weddings and quinceañeras, and more. Take a Virtual Tour of the Plaza Here (external link)!

Recently, a community process has been underway to revisit the operating model of the Plaza.  The consensus vision is that the Plaza should be a Community Arts and Cultural Center, and the City Council has approved a process to create a new, sustainable business plan for the Plaza reflecting that vision.  The business model is targeted for completion by the end of 2009, and until then, the City will be responsible for facilities management, and event services at the Plaza.  Programming during this time will be done by the Plaza’s Resident Arts Partners.

This web site provides information on the business planning process and how you can participate in it. We encourage everyone interested in the future of the Plaza to make a pledge. Your monetary donation or volunteer hours will be used to support the Plaza in the long term. In the short term, City staff is implementing the City Council’s direction to convene a Steering Committee to develop a new management future for the Plaza through a business planning process. The business planning process entrusts the 13-member community Steering Committee, representing a broad range of stakeholders, with the creation of a sustainable business model that positions the Plaza as a vibrant and sustainable Community Arts and Cultural Facility.  The community Steering Committee will be comprised of membership-based appointees, community members representing the neighborhoods around the Plaza, arts and education community representatives, and business and philanthropy representatives.

The Steering Committee selection, by five stakeholder parties, came to completion at the  January 27, 2009 Council meeting when the City Council unanimously approved their 3 selections to the 13-member Steering Committee. Please visit the business planning process page for details on the selection process and to view the selected Steering Committee members and their respective selection groups. City staff anticipates that the business planning process will be completed by the close of 2009 and will result in a recommendation by the Steering Committee to the City Council to proceed with a new operations and programming model for the Plaza. There will be community reporting on the work of the Steering Committee throughout the business planning process, so please visit our site often for updates and reports.  Thank you for your continued interest and commitment to a bright future for the Mexican Heritage Plaza.

For all inquiries regarding community outreach, the business planning process or the Plaza Pledge program please contact:

Elisa Echeverria
Mexican Heritage Plaza Transition Manager
(408) 794-6242
elisa.echeverria@sanjoseca.gov