In Galveston, a developer’s request to tear down a house built in the 1880s has been denied which became an immediate reason for members of the island’s preservation community to celebrate.
The yellow and white house at 1328 Church Street, which is best known for being home to the old Robles Food Mart will still be demolished by according to the plans of architect Ed Eubanks and builder Al Fichera. The developers still are going to take the case to the city’s Building Standards Commission.
The two developers are advocates for old houses but said that the old house is dangerous and cannot be repaired, according to Mark Stevens, their lawyer.
Despite the denial, the developers appealed the decision, claiming that the building’s restoration would cost almost twice as much as its purchase price. But since the the ordinances at issue in the lawsuit were in place when Eubanks bought the property, Cox ruled the commission’s decision.
The will of the residents of Galveston is in the ordinance which tells of regulating construction, renovation and demolition in the East End historic district, Cox wrote in the ruling issued Wednesday.
The Landmark Commission gave Eubanks and Fichera permission to remove two structures attached to the original home.
David Salyer, who represented the city in the case, was happy about Cox’s decision over the case. Dwayne Jones, executive director of the Galveston Historical Foundation, said that the ruling gave more strength to the process and the protections for historic property
“It just furthers the idea that we are really protecting our cultural resources and what’s important to our history,” he said.
The foundation put the house on its most endangered properties list last year.
Although the developers have not approached the foundation about providing assistance with any restoration work, the group is willing to do something if it can be done for everyone’s benefit, Jones said.
The foundation will continue to promote the Landmark Commission’s ruling for restoration, he said.
