(rshsdepot) Cleburne, TX

[Bernie Wagenblast <brwagenblast_@_comcast.net>]

Depot Gets Reprieve

By: Rob Fraser, Times-Review Writer

A three-way agreement delayed demolition of the Trinity & Brazos Valley
Depot this morning, but the city's building and standards commission needs
to hold a special meeting to make the final decision on its future.
The city, represented by City Manager Chester Nolen; Dan Roberts, the owner
of the depot; and Lonnie Watson, the chairman of the city's building and
standards commission signed the agreement Thursday afternoon to delay
demolition.
The agreement states the following:
The commission chairman will schedule a special meeting to consider the
matter as soon as possible.
Pending the commission's special meeting, Nolen will direct the city's
contractor to delay demolition of the building.
At the special meeting Nolen will recommend the commission modify its April
17, 1996 demolition order.
Roberts will be allowed 60 days from the date of the meeting [if the
commission approves it] to make the required repairs.
Roberts shall be allowed to make repairs to the building, which are
installing trusses and a metal roof, all the windows and doors will be
boarded up with plywood and missing brick will be replaced and the remaining
part of the building will be remortared.
If Roberts makes the repairs to the building within the 60 days, the
commission will revoke the April 17, 1996 demolition order.
If Roberts does not make the repairs within the 60-day period, the building
shall be demolished. Roberts agrees that if the commission modifies its
demolition order and he doesn't make the repairs within the 60-day period,
the city will demolish the building. A transfer of ownership of this
property does not in any way invalidate the agreement.
Roberts acknowledges the building and standards commission is an independent
body with quasi-judicial powers that the city manager does not have
authority to modify a demolition order of the commission and the city
manager can only request the commission modify its order. The city manager
does not warrant or represent the commission will follow his recommendation.
It is understood and agreed the agreement does not modify the April 17, 1996
demolition order of the building and standards commission and such order
shall remain in full force and effect unless and until it is modified by the
commission. This building shall not be demolished sooner than 60 days from
the date of the agreement whether or not the building standards commission
vacation the April 17, 1996 demolition order.
Nolen said he believed the meeting would be held Wednesday, March 13, but
there are different legal notice requirements on the commission
Nolen said after the signing if "Roberts makes the repair within the 60-day
period, the commission will revoke the demolition order and the issue is
over. If he does not make the repairs within the 60-day period the building
will be demolished."
Roberts said he would start the work if and when the commission approved
modifying the order.
He said, "We are going to be in the place where they have the authority,
I've been told, to modify the order, and that's where we should have been."
All three agreed the agreement was fair and equitable and Nolen said,
"Nobody had their arm broke trying to get out of it."
Watson said there are five members on the commission and the day the meeting
is set there will need to be a quorum, a minimum of three members.

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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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