The white, old building that once housed the Heritage Museum at Memorial Park is no more.
As part of the Third Avenue improvement project, a construction crew last month demolished the nearly 70- year-old building that was once home to a hamburger stand, a taco stand, and eventually the Heritage Museum, which occupied residency along Third Avenue at that the corner of Memorial Park since 1992.
Director of Public Works Rick Hopkins said the 500 square-feet building was rundown and difficult to maintain.
“It was one of the city facilities that was getting very old, like a number of our facilities, and with our limited budget it continued to be a continuous struggle to take care of,” he said.
Hopkins said the building was full of asbestos, the air conditioning wasn’t operational, the windows needed to be replaced and the roof “had a limited life.”
While the building is no longer standing, the museum has moved to the Chula Vista Civic Center Library at 365 F St.
The library opened the museum last January, kicking off its newest exhibit the Great Flood of 1916, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of the great Otay River Flood that flooded all of Chula Vista.
The Chula Vista Heritage Museum has always been operated by the Chula Vista Public Library.
Hopkins said there are many benefits with the museum moving to the library. He said for one it saves the Friends of the Library money, the library staff will also monitor the museum and Hopkins said the museum just becomes more accessible to the public. Library director Betty Waznis previously said it cost about $6,000 to $15,000 to operate the museum at its previous location.
Hopkins said the demolishment of the old heritage museum building was made possible by a San Diego Association of Governments grant, which is funding the Third Avenue improvement project to improve the street’s walkability and become more bicycle friendly by reducing the lanes from four to two and enhancing the street’s aesthetics.
Peter Watry had volunteered at the Heritage Museum since 1995. He said despite the building being old and worn out, he is going to miss it.
“I’m going to avoid driving down Third Avenue for a while because I know the museum won’t be there,” he said.
With the building no longer standing, Hopkins said it opens up the park and it becomes more walkable, especially during special events on Third Avenue. He said plans are in the works to lay down sod in the area where the building was standing.
Hopkins said the city investigated the historical value of the building through an environmental group, which deemed that the building had no historically significant value.
“We asked the museum folks if they wanted any part of building but they declined,” Hopkins said.
