San Jose Demolition Firm Donates Hundreds

Buccaneer Demolition, a San Jose contractor hired to tear down Millbrae’s El Rancho Inn, donated hundreds of salvaged furnishings from the hotel instead of discarding them, according to NBC Bay Area. Jose Uribe, the company’s vice president, said the firm gave away roughly 487 items from the property, including mattresses, microwaves, coffeemakers and chairs. The donations went to groups including Farmworker Caravan and Bay Area Furniture Bank, which distribute household goods to people in need. The El Rancho Inn site at 1100 El Camino Real is being cleared for a new apartment development, city records show. ### Which items were pulled out before the inn came down? NBC Bay Area reported on September 1 that Buccaneer Demolition set aside hotel contents that still had usable life rather than destroy them during demolition. Uribe said the salvage included beds and other room furnishings from the historic inn. Jose Uribe told NBC Bay Area the company’s goal was to keep debris out of landfills and reuse material where possible. (nbcbayarea.com) Buccaneer Demolition describes itself on its website as an eco-focused demolition and deconstruction contractor that aims to divert as much material from landfills as possible and says many projects exceed a 90% diversion rate. ### Who received the donations from the El Rancho Inn? Farmworker Caravan received most of the furnishings, NBC Bay Area reported. The group supports agricultural workers from Gilroy to Half Moon Bay, the station said. Darlene Tenes, executive director of Farmworker Caravan, told NBC Bay Area that mattresses and bed frames can be transformative for some recipients. (nbcbayarea.com) A 2020 profile by Green Foothills said the organization has collected donations and delivered supplies to farmworker families in Santa Clara, Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito and San Luis Obispo counties since April 2020. Bay Area Furniture Bank also received furnishings from some of the demolished rooms, NBC Bay Area said. The nonprofit says it serves homeless people, veterans, domestic violence survivors, refugees and low-income families across the Bay Area through partner social service agencies. ### Why was the El Rancho Inn being demolished? (nbcbayarea.com) The El Rancho Inn was built in 1948 and was featured in the film “The Right Stuff,” NBC Bay Area reported. The station said the hotel was demolished to make way for more than 350 new housing units. The City of Millbrae’s redevelopment page lists the property as a proposed five-story, 384-unit apartment building on about 5.55 acres. (nbcbayarea.com) City records say 19 of those units, or 5%, are designated for very low-income households, and the project also includes 560 vehicle parking spaces and 72 bicycle parking spaces. ### Was anything from the inn preserved beyond the furniture? (nbcbayarea.com) NBC Bay Area reported that Buccaneer Demolition also donated a statue from the inn to a Millbrae historical museum. The station did not identify the museum in the article text it published on September 1. The preservation step came alongside the larger furniture giveaway, which Uribe framed as part of the company’s reuse effort. (ci.millbrae.ca.us) His comments to NBC Bay Area focused on salvaging items that still had value and practical use. ### What happens next at 1100 El Camino Real? Millbrae’s project page identifies Anton DevCo as the developer for the El Rancho Inn redevelopment at 1100 El Camino Real. (nbcbayarea.com) The city says the approved plan calls for demolition of the former hotel and construction of the 384-unit apartment building, along with associated parking and bicycle spaces. City records show the Planning Commission approved the environmental assessment and design review permit for the project on March 7, 2022. The next public reference point for the site remains the city’s redevelopment page for 1100 El Camino Real, which lists the project details, addresses and applicant information. (ci.millbrae.ca.us)