Dismayed Lochee residents looked on in horror as Dundee City Council began demolition of the former St Mary’s Primary annex and nursery.
The building has lain empty since 2011 after pupils moved out, but members of the Lochee Community Group had been working to see it transferred into their ownership.
Signs have now been erected to say that the site is being demolished and part of the building has already been cleared.
The Group’s Alison Walker said the council’s decision was a huge blow.
She said the site should have been transferred into community ownership years ago.
Although boarded up and secured for almost five years, the school and nursery have repeatedly been vandalised and set on fire.
Ceilings have collapsed, rot infestation reported and large quantities of asbestos have been discovered in the building’s roofspace.
The deterioration was such that, in October, city engineers said it must be condemned, citing a lack of viable alternative use as another reason.
That saw initial offers to community groups of a community asset transfer withdrawn, with experts believing a fire last July was the last straw.
Ms Walker said: “We have spoken extensively with Dundee City Council and the Scottish Government about the possibility of a community asset transfer.
“Had the building been secured then we could have taken on the cost of maintenance and then taken on the challenge of getting funding.
Ms Walker also rejected council claims that the building would take £4 million to refurbish as she says the figure dates from 2009-10 and relates to bringing it up to standard for school use.
“We firmly believe that this building could still be saved,” she said.
A Dundee City Council spokesperson said: “The premises were offered to community groups via the council’s community asset transfer scheme, however following a fire, the building was beyond economic repair.
“The future use of the site will be discussed with local community representatives once the building has been demolished.”