By HEATHER CATHLEEN COX
File photo
San Benito’s historic Stonewall Jackson Hotel is pictured weeks before the building’s owner closed it down last fall.
Staff Writer
Reporter@sbnewspaper.com
The San Benito Public Housing Authority has announced a January workshop where the future of the historic Stonewall Jackson building will be discussed.
Since November, the SBPHA has been without a director.
SBPHA Interim Director Janet Velez said of the workshop’s purpose, “I think what’s being considered is trying to see what is going to be done with the actual building, to renovate or to sell.”
Housing Authority Chairman Lauro Leal said, “Everything’s on the table … we’re going to discuss whether to keep it, restore it, etc. I mean the possibilities are endless. More than likely, those are the main two (options).”
Leal said, “There’s a lot of stuff we can do with (the building).”
As previously reported by the News, some members of the San Benito community feel passionately about the once historic Stonewall Jackson, that in its heyday was the pinnacle of prestige for not only San Benito, but also for the entire Rio Grande Valley.
In 2012, the News took to the streets to interview everyday members of the community who held differing perspectives on what the building meant to them, but a consensus among residents seemed to say price for restoration would be a defining issue.
In response to whether or not the board will incorporate community opinion into their decision on Stonewall’s fate, Leal said, “We will be real objective about how we react. Everything’s on the table. We will get input from board members; we will discuss and proceed from there. As for members of the community, that’s another thing we’re going to discuss (but) everything right now is still very preliminary.”
At this time the SBPHA is not releasing information regarding how much it may cost to bring the building up to code. “We have to do the meeting first. After the workshop we will have a better idea of figures for restoration.”
In April of 2013, then Director Arnold Padilla said, “The building is physically sound, asbestos is very minimal, lead-based paint is also very minimal, and structural sound and environmental clearance came back well.” Padilla also said that the Stonewall Jackson’s condition played a significant role in the SBPHA’s decision to purchase it.
The aforementioned workshop will be held at 5 p.m. on Jan. 29 at the SBPHA office, located on 1400 Reagan in San Benito. The meeting will be held in open session.
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4 comments
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Sounds like the consensus is to tear the place down?
The people that made the decision to purchase this building were irresponsible and apparently no plan to do anything with it. No planning, nebulous goals and irresponsible decisions. Very San Benito!
If any of you have lived or worked in the hotel before it was finally closed , you would know how much work needs to be done.I saw for myself back in the 80’s and 90’s that it needed new electrical , plumbing, and structural repairs. The owners were always fixing or repairing things as cheaply as possible,if they were taken care of at all. The absence of good window and door frames let the wind in all winter and since there was no air conditioning unless there was a window unit in the rooms , insulation was unheard of in walls and ceilings.And I hope that all the cats and mice have been removed cause they owned the place in the evenings .Good Luck and bring a big check book.
I am one of those “people” that is adamant that this Historic Hotel needs to be restored, and trust me, I am in no need of medical help, except for a lil Tylenol now and then.
The Stonewall Jackson Hotel was built in 1929, then underwent a major renovation in 1936. This Hotel is one of the few remaining structures that remain from the early days of our community. I am relieved to be finding out that demolition is apparently not being contemplated, but it would benefit and behoove the Housing Authority Board to seek input from the community, not just rely on the opinion of board members. A true gauge of the public’s opinion and sentiments as to the future of the Hotel needs to be obtained, preferably through workshops as opposed to setting up a one time public meeting.
I have always been of the opinion that the San Benito Historical Commission should be housed at the hotel, along with the other museum’s. The first floor is spacious, has plenty of room for display, and space for a gift shop. The Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center could be housed in the 2nd floor, or vice versa.
Please keep us posted as to the latest developments, we are extremely anxious to see a positive step taken in the restoration and acceptable utilization of this historic structure.
You had better “hope” that it can be sold,or pawned off on somebody.The city has no funds to experiment with another project.Once again,the people that had this pipe dream of restoring this eyesore are in sad need of medical help.No,not really,I’m sure the planners saw visions of dollar signs in “their” bank accounts,that was their plan,to use the taxpayers money for their private gain.
Now it looks to me like the city is stuck with it,the taxpayers will end up having to assume the costs of demolition and proper disposal,not a cheap trick in this day and age.Where are the wizards who thought up this grand plan,they may be still around,lets see what they want to do with it,and how they plan to pay for it.