“State Sen. Iris Martinez, who has been vocal in the fight to save La Casa Puertorriqueña, is livid the beloved Puerto Rican community center is now [demolished].
“According to Martinez, the plan all along was to save the community center at 1237 N. California Ave. and build affordable housing around it.
“Martinez said of Paul Roldan, president of Hispanic Housing Development Corporation, the nonprofit developer redeveloping the site, “[He] destroyed our icon.”
“Yesterday was very emotional. I cried. … I’m just livid with the disrespect he has shown our community.”
“Roldan, who didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment, has never said publicly the community center would be saved.
“Asked about the fate of the community center after the court-ordered sale last year, he told Block Club: “It’s an important question we need to figure out with the rest of the community.” Roldan told the Tribune it’s an “iconic location. It’s not an iconic building.” (Bloom, 9/26/19)