A longtime South Bay preschool may shut down to make way for a condominium complex.
St. Elizabeth's Day Home in South San Jose plans to close its doors this summer due to rising costs and a lack of funding. In the meantime, school officials are moving forward on a proposal to change the zoning on the property to allow for a possible sale to a housing developer.
St. Elizabeth's Day Home opened in 1907 and is considered to be a local landmark. The school closure would mean 120 preschoolers will have to find new teachers next year.
"To know it's not going to exist, it's devastating," parent America Navarro.
Navarro received an e-mail from officials on Friday informing the campus community the non-profit school is closing its doors due to financial troubles.
"Obviously it comes down to money, and no money," Navarro said.
School leaders said the aging building needs to be remodeled and that the campus cannot compete with rising teacher salaries. In addition, donations are down, leaving the school no choice but to close.
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The preschool is surrounded by development. A new apartment complex is going up a few blocks down from the campus and city officials said the school has already applied for a zoning change that would allow for a multi-unit condo complex.
The decision has left parents like Navarro wishing officials did more to save her daughter's school.
"Choosing condos over education -- what is this coming to?" Navarro asked.
The San Jose City Council is scheduled to vote on the zoning proposal in May.
