For decades, the 50-acre, World War II-era housing complex known as Canyon Crest Family Student Housing was home to UCR students with families.

The shuttered site is now being razed to make way for a massive student-housing expansion project.

About two dozen people, most of whom had worked in some capacity at Canyon Crest through the years, gathered July 22 to watch as the demolition of over 150 homes began.

Sandra Martinez, a custodial services manager for Facilities Services who worked as a building maintenance worker at the complex in 2002, called it “bittersweet,” recalling the families who lived there. But she said she looked forward to seeing it transform into new student housing.

Canyon Crest closed in summer 2017 with campus officials saying the complex had become outdated with frequent power outages and water, sewer, and electrical systems in need of constant updates.

Since then families in need of housing can apply online for an apartment home space at Oban Family Housing , located at Canyon Crest Drive and Linden Street, across from the UCR Police Department.