Across from the Mexican Heritage Plaza in East San José, a long-neglected commercial building is being reimagined as a vibrant, community-rooted cultural hub—made possible through years of partnership, planning, and patient capital.
Known as La Placita, the 28,000-square-foot project will soon house a theater, community cafe, family wellness center, and affordable space for artists, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. The project is led by the School of Arts and Culture at the Mexican Heritage Plaza (SOAC), with Community Vision as a key partner from the earliest stages.
Nearly three years before construction broke ground, Community Vision began working alongside SOAC—providing early advisory support that helped lay the groundwork for what would become a highly complex, community-centered real estate project.
“Community Vision has been a true partner across the full life of this project,” said Jessica Paz-Cedillos, SOAC’s Executive Director. “They stepped in early with technical support that helped us pressure-test the vision, strengthen our readiness, and navigate the complexity of a New Markets Tax Credit transaction.”
A Community Anchor with Deep Roots
Since incorporating as a nonprofit in 2011 and assuming management of the Mexican Heritage Plaza in 2013, SOAC has grown into a trusted cultural and civic anchor in East San José’s Mayfair neighborhood.
Operating under a long-term agreement with the City of San José, SOAC transformed the Mexican Heritage Plaza into a thriving center for arts education, cultural celebration, and community gathering—while keeping space accessible through a mix of foundation support and earned revenue from theater rentals.
From Vision to Reality: La Placita
La Placita represents the next chapter in SOAC’s evolution. Located directly across the street from the Mexican Heritage Plaza, the project allows SOAC to expand its own programming while also providing mission-aligned space for three to four additional community-serving tenants.
Designed to meet immediate neighborhood needs while advancing long-term cultural and economic opportunity, La Placita will:
- Provide essential services such as a childcare enrollment center, a community cafe, and affordable space for artists and small businesses.
- Create and retain jobs accessible to local residents.
- Strengthen neighborhood-based economic activity and help counter cultural displacement pressures.
- Anchor the emerging La Avenida Cultural District, advancing a place-based strategy centered on cultural identity, community voice, and economic mobility.
A cornerstone of the project is SOAC’s partnership with Gardner Health Services, a Federally Qualified Health Center that will operate a family wellness center on site. The clinic is expected to serve approximately 406 families per month and provide more than 7,000 medical visits annually, including medical, behavioral health, dental, and chiropractic services.
Staying the Course Through Closing
As La Placita moved from planning to closing, timing and coordination across multiple public and philanthropic funding sources became critical. Community Vision stepped in with $2.31 million in financing to help bridge funding gaps and keep the project on track—ensuring that resources could align without delaying construction.
“Community Vision stayed with us through the finish line—providing critical gap financing that aligned public and philanthropic resources and made it possible to close a highly complex NMTC deal,” said Paz-Cedillos. “Their partnership reflects what becomes possible when capital is deployed with trust, rigor, and a long-term commitment to community impact.”
Building Right, Together
That long-term commitment reached a major milestone with La Placita’s groundbreaking in late January, marking the transition from years of planning to on-the-ground transformation.
“La Placita exists because patient, values-aligned capital met a community-driven vision. This project was never about building fast—it was about building right: honoring the cultural legacy of East San José, protecting affordability, and creating long-term pathways for local artists, small businesses, and families to thrive,” shared Paz-Cedillos.
We are proud to partner with SOAC as La Placita enters this next phase, turning years of planning into a lasting community asset.
