Save Club Azteca
In 2021, Cleveland, Ohio's first Mexican-American social hall was proposed to be demolished for new construction in the Gordon Square Historic District. The significant Latinx landmark was not previously designated as an individual historic property, but the building was located within a National Register of Historic Places and Cleveland Landmark Historic District. Advocates (later known as the Club Azteca Coalition) wanted to save the building's history, which led to a mitigation agreement between the Club Azteca Coalition and developer. Objects were salvaged from the building, including an 18-foot-long handmade Mexican flag from the 1930s, and the building was photo-documented prior to demolition.
After being invited by Latinx history advocates (later known as the Club Azteca Coalition), Jessica provided professional volunteer services to the project with support by STEAM volunteer program from Jacobs her employer . The Club Azteca Coalition was comprised with members of the Latinx community, including representatives from Club Azteca, Comite Mexicano, Mexican American Historical Society of Cleveland, Young Latino Network, and Cleveland Foundation. She developed mitigation options for the Club Azteca Coalition to discuss with the developer, spoke to local news about the building's significance, and provided a statement of eligibility to the Cleveland Landmarks Commission. She networked with the Young Ohio Preservationists and Latinos in Heritage Conservation to organize best approaches for the project, and offered guidance to the Club Azteca Coalition.
Photos from clockwise from top left: Sign on front elevation of Club Azteca building; interior entry way of building; Bella Sin, Jessica Wobig, and Bob Perkowski; Bella Sin holds the 1930s Mexican flag rediscovered at the Club Azteca building.
Though the building was not saved, the importance of this advocacy campaign was recognized both locally and nationally within the historic preservation community as cutting-edge for its coordination and emphasis on representation and reciprocity in historic preservation and the development process. The Club Azteca Coalition and the development team demonstrated how diplomacy and coordination can accomplish meaningful revitalization activities in historic places even when historic resources are replaced. Most importantly, the project's advocacy and volunteerism sparked opportunity for resolution and furthered the historic legacy of a important place for the Mexican-American community in Cleveland, Ohio.