Thank you for this story! As a former volunteer at Avenidas, and am now lucky enough to be able to use their services, I am dismayed to read that they cannot find room for La Comida. It provided essential social contacts as well as nutritious meals for the elderly. Many years ago my aunt used their dining room.
I hope that Avenidas will try harder to find enough space in that building to accommodate a full dining room. Even if they have to sacrifice some space already assigned. Take out is not the solution to both needs of the elderly.

I was dismayed when Avenidas had their huge remodel, but somehow there was no longer enough room for La Comida. It appeared to me that the new plans were deliberately contrived to exclude La Comida.

La Comida has demonstrated to be too inflexible in their demands to last very long anywhere in someone else's real estate. In other words, La Comida is a problematic tenant that doesn't share space well. La Comida seemingly wants someone else to give them free real estate dedicated only for exclusive La Comida use (i.e. La Comida wants something for nothing). The La Comida Board has known of their real estate issue for years and years and has done little to gain control of their own fate. To solve their problem on a long term basis, La Comida needs to fundraise, find their own real estate and then operate their mission.

I hope a solution will be found--good will on both sides

The City has ground floor unleased space available at old Form Fitness space at Bryant/Lytton (ready to move in). This tenant space would likely work for La Comida on short-term basis (until La Comida Board finds its own space or works a deal with City for long term lease). No elevator problem, downtown location, no need to share space, space is large enough to house La Comida operations, etc. City has stated that they would prefer a high-paying tenant at former Form Fitness space, but such high-paying tenant is non-existent in this real estate market and City’s space is not high enough quality to attract a high-paying tenant. Win- win solution.

Isn't much of the issue that La Comida needs a kitchen/food preparation area by the dining area in order to offer sit-down meals? Stevenson House has that, but my impression is that some of the north PA options mentioned do not have that. Does Avenidas have kitchen space available?

Mondoman, The Weekly article seems to indicate that meals are prepared in the Stevenson House kitchen and then brought to downtown location. Weekly article also mentions former Form Fitness space as a possible La Comida venue - Weekly reporter did not disqualify former Form Fitness space for La Comida because lack of kitchen facilities; instead Weekly reporter indicated City reluctance to allow La Comida is based upon desire for higher rent. La Comida could likely bring portable food warming appliances to downtown location where no kitchen facilities exist.

@JS1
Yes, the boxed lunches are shipped across town to downtown. Having attended some of the sit-down meals at Stevenson House, the meals are cooked in the kitchen there and hot meals brought out to the tables, similarly to the way meals were prepared back at Avenidas.

As implied in this story, shipping in boxed lunches is an inferior experience. Now that the Covid emergency has ended, we should ensure that our seniors have access to a proper sit-down warm meal. As the Avenidas building is owned by the City, it makes sense to at least look over the city's contract with Avenidas.

@Mondoman
With all due respect, the Weekly article describes the incompatible relationship between La Comida and Avenidas, plus the Avenidas space is currently occupied by the Redwood (Web Link In other very plain words, space for La Comida is not even available at Avenidas.

The La Comida Board is remiss in allowing their organization to find themselves in a situation where it does not have the facilities needed to operate their mission. The existing condition was entirely foreseeable. There are already several senior housing facilities in downtown Palo Alto that have kitchens and dining rooms serving seniors (Webster House, Lytton Gardens, Channing House, etc.). If La Comida has an emergency facilities issue, these are the logical places to work a deal for interim facilities until such time that La Comida can find a long term facilities solution (with give and take required of La Comida). Alternatively, there are several empty restaurant locations in downtown Palo Alto that are immediately available.

@JS1 Yes, I agree that the La Comida board has failed the organization here as you describe. IMHO, it's also true that the Avenidas board threw La Comida under the bus at the time of the Avenidas building remodel. It's sad to see such failings in Palo Alto.

What is the issue w returning La Comida to Avenidas? There are empty rooms. An elevator, the history of the site as a senior center for local elderly and lunch was served for decades there? It appears that serving seniors at a designated senior center is rocket science? Are some senior citizens more unsavory than others? Are our elders divided now in those who have and have not. This is a city owned location. What exactly is the problem? Feeding hungry elder twice a week at mid day for an hour or so? Can’t the human relations commission weigh in. Mountains from mole hills. Insane.

La Comida does not share space… For their “two lunch/week” program, they want 24/7 exclusive use of space including Kitchen and dining. This is why it makes sense for the La Comida Board to go find their own space.

@JS1 Are you sure about that? At Stevenson, they don't seem to have 24/7 exclusive use of the kitchen and dining area. Probably some refrigerator/freezer space for ingredients and leftovers, though.

@Mondoman
Big difference between sharing space in a dining room that is used exclusively in a dining configuration and sharing spare where multiple uses occur. La Comida has demonstrated past inflexibility in sharing such space - La Comida insisting on a dining configuration (thereby making the space mostly unusable for other purposes). La Comida Board should either find space that they can share with existing Kitchen/Dining facility or find their own space. La Comida in Avenidas facility is an incompatible fit - Avenidas does not have a dining room nor a need for a dining room. There are better options for a future permanent La Comida downtown home. La Comida Board needs to explore/find/pursue those better options.

Two wrongs do not make a right. La Comida could be a little more flexible but so could Avenidas. The staff at Avenidas does not like the clients of La Comida coming in the reception area because their talking is too loud.

Time for a joint cultural training workshop.

Weekly - how about an update on La Comida and Avendias? Spending time in Avendias and the building is empty most of the time. I agree with commentors that both organizations need to be flexible. Seems like La Comida's needs have changed over the years and they are much more flexible - no longer seeking a kitchen or a dedicated space - just a room for 2 hours a day to meet this large need of our seniors for meals. Where is Avendias on trying to accomodate? Let's get all the cities non-profit senior services reunited!