DOWNTOWN BRENHAM COULD LOSE HISTORIC BUILDING
Downtown Brenham is in danger of losing an historic building to demolition.
Sitting at the east end of Commerce Street, the old St. Anthony Laundry Building was built around 1880. It is on one of the oldest buildings remaining in downtown Brenham, and an application has been made for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. After years of being open to the weather through holes where windows used to be, the roof gave way. Now the owners of the two-story building, Kent Brownell and Mary Corona, are seeking bids to have it torn down.
Erik Smith, Manager of Development Services for the City of Brenham, says he has been in contact with the owners about how to make the Laundry Building safe. The City has offered a structural engineer’s report by Gessner Engineering which describes what needs to be done to secure and weatherproof the building. But it appears Brownell and Corona are moving forward with plans for its demolition.
While the application with the National Register gives the historic name as the Brenham Pulp Factory, most people remember it as the Laundry Building. In the 1900’s, it served as the laundry for the historic St. Anthony Hotel, which stood at the corner of Main and Market Streets. Later it was operated as Fabric Care Service, owned by the Sanders family until 2005.
In July of 2014 the Brenham City Council authorized the City Attorney to pursue all available legal remedies against the owners, to require them to bring the building up to code. Although the exterior of the building had been painted, it remained vulnerable to the weather with missing windows and doors, and openings in the roof. Now, two years later, the Laundry Building has been designated an “unsafe structure” and is scheduled to be discussed by Brenham’s Building Standards Commission on September 7th.
Doug Price, Executive Director of the Brenham Heritage Museum, is still hopeful that something can be done to save the historic building from destruction. Price says the Laundry Building is a visible historic structure that completes the historic perspective of Commerce Street. Without it, he says, the view is ruined and the historic quality of a large part of downtown is spoiled.
Other Texas cities have passed historic preservation ordinances which prevent owners from tearing down historic buildings. The City of Brenham, however, has not passed such an ordinance.
The city should buy it if they care about down town. THEN pass some ordinance against the car shop next to it, what a eye sore, a wrecking yard slash junk yard, talk about what people think of downtown. …
Funny thing about it, That is one of the longest operated, successful business in the downtown area. Not many can says they have been in business since the early 70s. Parking lots dont make dollars or a persons living.
Potential museum site? Art gallery for Texas artist?
I think the owners might have had good intentions, but with the rising cost of supplies and contractors it may not have been cost efficient. Although I agree that if you could not afford to fix it why bother buying it. A loss that could have been avoided, buy letting someone else buy it.
They need to donate the building to the Bremham State Supported Living Center. They are looking for a place for a store for the individuals with developmental disabilities. It would be a tax write off.
I support your idea 100% Shirley! BSSLC has a great program and this would be great!
I’m sure upkeep on a bldg this old and this large can be expensive yet sadly the owners don’t appear to have done anything over the years to try to prevent deterioration. Without adequate parking in that whole area it would not appear to be a choice location for a business and too expensive to renovate. Brenham needs to review its policies on preservation so that hopefully a building can be rescued before it gets in this condition. Older buildings with their different styles of architecture add charm and interest to small towns. The ambiance created by our architecture and the additional touches added by the brick pavers, old lights and seasonal decorations are what draw people here to support our small business owners and keep our downtown viable.
Why purchase the building just to let it rot? The owners could have done something before it got this bad. Another out of town person changing our small town.
Surely there is someone in our community that has the money to preserve this building I would if I could
What a shame. If they don’t have plans of renovating for whatever reason, the building should be sold, as is to someone to restore and become a historical landmark. We can’t be like Houston and tear down everything old. The history is much more important.
Some people have respect for this cities history and appreciate its architecture. Just because you and the owners of this beautiful building don’t see anything in it doesn’t mean anyone else doesn’t. People like you are the reason history isn’t well known. That building could have had potential if it’s owners would have kept it up. What a shame to see such I nice building being bet on to be torn down when it’s been there holding history for over 130 years.
I would take over ownership for preservation if the owners are interested
I hope the owners consider you.
Every day I drive by this building and
My heart breaks at the sight. You can see the deterioration
Almost as it is happening. This building has so much potential.
Even as I write this the ideas that this building could be used for are
Running thru my mind!
Good luck Carey!!!!!
I don’t understand why this story was even written about. Nobody cares about that ugly building. This is why it has gone to hell lol
Nobody cares? Out of 12 comments so far 11 “care”. Ugly? Only the damaged part the owners didn’t try to preserve. Wish I could afford to renovate this beautiful historic building. Hope it can be saved somehow!
Im with you. WHO CARES!!! Tear it down. Funny how now that tearing it down is mentioned, people are jumping up saying how sad it is and such a piece of history, bla bla bla… If people were so concerned about it, it would not be in the shape it is now. Tear it down…
One day, when you are drooling in a wheelchair and possibly in a nursing facility, please ask this same question of yourself. “WHO CARES?” … It takes the continual surveillance of a community to assure that all things relevant to it being a viable community are handled with care and dedication. The State of Texas has long confirmed to Small Towns that the Number One reason for Tourists and Visitors to come to an area is for its HISTORIC aspects. Keep tearing down history and neglecting history and there will soon be no reason for anyone to visit the community. Ignorance of history is also the Number One reason why people under 50 have no clue as to what is in their own backyard. Think on this when you reach maturity and are alone in your nursing home room.
shame on these owners for letting this historic building get in this condition! Brenham needs to pass a historic preservation ordinance so we can save our history.