Residents at the historic Stonewall Jackson Hotel, located on E. Stenger St. in San Benito, are shown (right) wandering inside the building’s lobby after they had received notices from the City of San Benito asking them to vacate their homes within 48 hours. (Staff photo by Michael Rodriguez)
By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com
No fire extinguishers, a partially blocked fire escape and a cracked ceiling and overhead beams are just some of the building and fire code violations reported at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel in San Benito.
Such violations were detailed in inspection reports that the City of San Benito released to the News on Friday in response to an open records request filed Wednesday.
On September 4, members of the San Benito City Commission opted to take no action on an agenda item proposing the hotel’s closure as a result of the aforementioned violations. Acknowledging that the commissioners were not authorized to make such decisions, Mayor Joe H. Hernandez said that city administrators would instead be deciding the hotel’s fate.
It didn’t take long for department heads to act. Notices were posted at the hotel on Thursday informing tenants and staff that residents had 48 hours to vacate the building. It was confirmed, though, that the city will extend the amount of time in which residents can leave to Tuesday or possibly Wednesday.
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2 comments
The Stonewall Jackson Hotel has been an eyesore to our city for way too long. For many years it has sat unkept and unattended. I know first hand how bad the place is because my dad lived there for many years before he went into a nursing home in 2000. He loved the place because he remembered it from its “glory days”. The old building could be beautiful if it had the right owners with the finances to undergo such a huge project. The older people of our community all have great stories of the Stonewall from years ago. My memories of it however are horrible. Dark halls, roaches, rats, garbage, strong smell of urine throughout the building just to mention a few. Worse than this was the constant access to drugs, alcahol, prostitution…some say, “If you wanted it go to the Stonewall and you will find it.” My dad at the time he lived there was an alcaholic and was for the most part in such a drunken state that he propbably never noticed how bad it was. I for one love historical buildings and really wish that the old place could be restored but unless someone really has the funds it will probably never happen. I do feel sorry for the few remaining families there but there are other places they can find if they will look. Health and safety are much more important.
Are you kidding, just driving by this eyesore would indicate to someone with the training and knowledge that perhaps an inspection would be the right thing to do. How long did it take this building to get in such disrepair. How long has been since this building underwent their last inspection. This and other unsafe buildings in San Benito are occupied by persons. Where was the the code enforcement department last year. Perhaps too busy campaigning for candidates. Too busy to do their job.