OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A converted artist’s warehouse in Oakland. Burned down in 2016The building, which killed 36 people, was quietly demolished this month in preparation for possible development into much-needed low-income housing.

The land on which the ghost ship warehouse was located was acquired by Unity Council, an Auckland-based non-profit community development organization.

Chris Iglesias, CEO of the Council told the Bay Area Newsgroup Last week, they said they were aware of how sensitive this issue is to the families of those who died in a warehouse fire during an electronic music party on December 2nd, 2016, and they intend to proceed with caution. said it was.

“We want to be really, really thoughtful in this process and understand how tragic this has been for them,” he said.

The cause of the fire was not determined, but an electrical overload filled the warehouse with smoke and flames, and partygoers were soon trapped indoors. The building is Illegally repurposed into a live workspace There were no emergency exits or fire extinguishers. Extension cords, rugs, old sofas, and other combustible materials were jumbled and stuffed inside the building.

Prosecutors have charged Derrick Almena, the master tenant of the lease and who lived in the building with his wife and children, and Max Harris, the occupant, in the deaths. A jury acquitted Harris in 2019, but Almena’s trial ended with the jury hanging.

In 2021, he pleaded guilty He was charged with 36 counts of manslaughter and served the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.

Grieving family and friends flocked to court for the trial.

The fire exposed deficiencies in the city’s fire inspections, prompting the City of Oakland to settled lawsuit Paid $33 million from victims and their families.