Published: September 26, 2007 11:16 pm      

Deterioration brings end to downtown landmark

Huntsville is losing a part of its downtown history.

A 69-year-old building on the corner of Sam Houston Avenue and 13th Street was demolished after Central Inspections Services found it to be a structural hazard.

King Consultants and Assured Environmental Quality Inc. are working on the project that is expected to cost around $50,000.

Michael Roempke, city building official, looked at pictures of the interior of the two-story building and said the structure has deteriorated after years of being inhabited.

“Since 2005, the city has been working with the owner, David Ward, and trying to find ways to restore and repair the building,” Roempke said. “Unfortunately, it came to the point where it was significantly unsafe and something had to be done.”

Roempke said a licensed engineer performed a structural study on the building and reported an asbestos problem which requires, according to the Texas Department of Health, that asbestos abatement procedures be followed.

“There is someone on site licensed in asbestos abatement to monitor and make sure everything is being done properly,” Roempke said. “Workers are continually spraying down the area and keeping it wet in order to keep dust particles down.”

He said AEQ should have the building demolished no later than Thursday.

After the demolition is complete, Roempke said it would take another week or two to move everything out of the area and get it cleaned up.

“The materials will be taken to a specific waste site or landfill that is designated for hazardous materials,” Roempke said.

Ward, who has owned the building for the last 24 years, said he wanted the building to remain a part of Huntsville’s history, but the dollar signs were just too high.

“It’s a historical building and holds a lot of meaning for us,” Ward said. “We had some good ideas for a bed and breakfast or a restaurant. We would also have liked to restore the building to its original look from the ’40s as well, but unfortunately, all these things were out of my league.”

Ward Furniture moved into the building in 1984 and Ward said the business stayed there for about 10 years.

“After we left the building and moved to our new location (180 Interstate 45), we leased the first floor for antique shops for a few years,” Ward said. “Since then, it’s been uninhabited.

James Patton, chair of the Walker County Historical Commission, said the Walker County deed records show that the building was built in 1938 by J.W. McAdams and his family as a Hotel Plaza that had a grocery store, barber and beauty shop and a cafe inside.

“Throughout the years, the building has had many owners and businesses come through,” Patton said. “It’s a sad day — it’s a part of history, but we hate to lose good buildings.”

Since the Hotel Plaza, the building has been occupied by a grocery store, auto shop, shoe store, furniture stores and even a bookstore for Sam Houston State University.

“If that building could talk, I bet it could tell some tales,” Ward said. “Before I-45 was there, Sam Houston Avenue was the main link from Huntsville to Houston and a lot of stops were made at this building.”

Although the project will be completed soon, Ward said he didn’t know what the future holds for this area.

“I’ve been asked quite a few times what we’re going to do and right now, I really don’t know,” Ward said. “We just wanted to get the building down and comply with what the city asked us to do.

“From there, we will be looking for and thinking about more ideas for future use of the property.”