Downtown properties threatened with demolition

By Janet Jacobs

Two of D.W. Vanderslice’s downtown properties were the target of some pointed questioning at Thursday’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, and both are now under the shadow of the wrecking ball.

The brick building at 222 N. Beaton St. sits at the corner of Beaton and Fourth Avenue, a dismal example of a downtown building gone wrong. The awning is gone, and sections of the brick along the north side have been removed.

In late January, the city put barricades around the north side of the building, out of fear that bricks would fall off the building and strike a pedestrian, or that the wall would collapse, according to Sherri Warren, director of the city’s planning and zoning department.

Vanderslice was asked by three members of the zoning commission when he would have the work done to make the building safe. He did not give them a direct answer, except to say that he would try to get it fixed.

Clearly exasperated, the board gave him 10 days hire a contractor and obtain the proper permits, and 30 days to complete the work, or the city will hire an expert to demolish the building. It will have to be done carefully, because the building shares common walls, and a common roof with its neighbor.

“Some people don’t know they system, and we have sympathy with them, but history says you do, you just don’t have good intentions,” Commissioner Chuck McClanahan told Vanderslice.

When Vanderslice said he couldn’t get contractors to work on the project quickly, the commissioners scoffed.

George Baum, who owns the building next door, said it’s been a long-lasting problem, and if it can’t be addressed quickly then he would rather see the building destroyed.

“I’d recommend to you to go ahead and demo it,” Baum said. “And I’d appreciate your getting on this.”

Baum is involved because the two buildings share a roof, which slants down north towards Fourth Avenue. When the drainage system broke down, however, it began to take its toll on the Vanderslice building. Baum said he’s gotten at least three different estimates from roofing experts to fix the problem, but Vanderslice has rejected them all.

“I think when you take something that’s been going on as long as this has and you’ve got yellow ribbon around it ... and 100 feet of sidewalk around it, if something happens, they’re not going to say ‘Mr. Vanderslice, do you have liability?’”

Malinda Sharpley, director of the Main Street program, spoke on behalf of downtown.

“First, let me say that with the Main Street Program, one of our major goals is to preserve the architectural infrastructure, but one of our other major goals is to get people downtown,” Sharpley explained. “We’ve had these kinds of problems with him (Vanderslice) for years, and nothing happens. It’s not like other people aren’t willing to buy the properties and take good care of them.”

When talking about the 222 Beaton property, Vanderslice said he’s been working on the building — despite the condemnation, and without a permit — because the contractor left a “hole” in the roof.

At that point, Richard Tate, inspector for the city, stood up to explain that the hole was approximately 40 feet wide, that the entire rear section of the building was exposed to the elements.

Following the meeting, Vanderslice said he would make an attempt to save the property.

“I’m going to certainly try,” he said. “I don’t want the building torn down. It’s a good building.”

Although he admitted that other people had offered to buy the building, he said he was never offered a good enough price.

The next item on the agenda, Vanderslice’s building at 117 Commerce, between Collin and Sixth, was put on the demolition list with much less discussion.

Sometime in the last year, the back of the building fell in, crushing a car that was stored there. Like the other property, it remains in need of repairs that never came.

Vanderslice proposed several solutions, including taking off the second floor, and salvaging the bottom floor, repairing the roof, and demolishing it himself, but admitted that he had taken no action on any of it.

The board voted unanimously to demolish the building.

A third Vanderslice building, the former Red Circle Supply building, was also recently put on the demolition list. Vanderslice was given instructions to fix that one six months ago, and he did not, Warren said.

Vanderslice owns 20 properties in Corsicana, according to the appraisal district.

In the last few years, he has been cited 14 times for failing to keep his various properties up to safety and cleanliness standards, according to a list of tickets issued by the city and obtained by the Corsicana Daily Sun in January.

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Janet Jacobs may be reached via e-mail at jacobs@corsicanadailysun.com

CORSICANA PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING BRIEFS

By Janet Jacobs/Daily Sun Staff Writer

Taco Bell gets green light

The Planning and Zoning Commission gave approval to a preliminary plat for 2937 South U.S. 287, next to the Shell station at the intersection of 287 and Interstate 45, breaking a large lot into three smaller ones. One of the lots is intended for a new Taco Bell restaurant, according to the David Martin, who applied for the plat with Barbara Moe.

Sand lot tentatively approved

Jerry Libal, who applied for a replatting and then rezoning of his property at 4737 W. Highway 31 (west of the Wal-Mart) received approval for new zoning to allow for a sand and gravel lot on the property. He intends to build an office building on one part of the property, and put the gravel business next door. The commissioners approved it with a vote of three in favor. Gordon Wilson abstained, and Frank Martinez voted against it, arguing it would be spot zoning.

Car tow yard approved

After several trips to city hall, Eric Hancock received permission to put in a car storage yard at 1900 S. Business 45. Hancock has been back and forth with the city on the issue, and has been rejected at least twice because his plans called for a car storage yard right on Business 45. The city is under pressure to clean up the appearance of entrances to the city. His new plans call for his yard to be located near the back of different piece of property. He agreed to put the correct fencing around the yard.

Car sales rejected

Matthew Lewis, with Straight Up Motor, was told he could not get a Specific Use Permit for a car lot at 1107 W. Seventh. Lewis put in a used car lot on the property he shares with Elite Signs without first checking with the city to see if the site was zoned for used car sales. When the city told him he had to get permission, he applied, but Thursday was told it would not be granted. The area is zoned for general retail, which doesn’t allow used car lots. Other used car lots on the street are non-conforming, explained Sherri Warren, planning and zoning director.

Demolition orders handed down

The following properties were put on the demolition order list Thursday:

• 308 W. Sixth

• 204 N. 18th (storage building only)

• 1108 Elmwood (garage)

• 602 E. 15th