By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
San Benito’s historic Stonewall Jackson Hotel is pictured weeks before the building’s owner reportedly closed it down last fall. (Staff photo)
Stonewall Jackson may see new life as potential buyers contemplate the historic hotel’s future.
Among those interested include the San Benito Public Housing Authority.
“There is interest, but not necessarily for housing at this moment,” said Arnold Padilla, Executive Director of the San Benito PHA. “The Housing Authority has the option of purchasing the building. We have 90 days to review the structural integrity of the building.”
According to Padilla, the intended use of the building has yet to be determined, but he expressed interest in utilizing the first floor for office space or commercial use.
“Anything and everything will be on the table,” continued Padilla. “We still haven’t determined what we will do with the second or third floors, but we may use it for commercial space as well.”
Stonewall Jackson is currently up for sale by Omar Cuevas, who has owned the building for approximately five years. When asked how much he’s selling the property for, Cuevas declined to comment but did say that he is open to anyone interested in inquiring about the building.
“It’s still a beautiful building,” Padilla said. “When the Housing Authority began looking at the opportunity to buy it, we knew what we were in for. If we purchase the building, we will be refurbishing it in its entirety. We will try to keep its personality, but we’re completely renovating the interior.”
Padilla said that the plan is to keep the building’s historical value in tact while bringing Stonewall up to health and safety codes.
“To be compliant with health and safety codes, we’ll need to demolish the interior structure and put in the required fire suppression system, among other things,” said Padilla. “It’s all part of the plan. We understand the value of the building, its significance.”
In the meantime, the Housing Authority taking precautions by securing the building to ensure public safety and the building’s value, said Padilla. The Housing Authority has already invested approximately $3,500 in said efforts, boarding up the first floor, putting up an 8-foot tall security fence and installing new security lights.
“These measures taken by the Housing Authority are to ensure the safety of the community,” Padilla said. “Even if we do not buy the building, we want to make the building a safer place.”
On Oct. 19, the City of San Benito Fire and Code Enforcement Departments cited Cuevas for international fire and building code violations that included a lack of fire extinguishers, a partially blocked fire escape and a cracked ceiling and overhead beams; loose and/or unsecured pipes, wiring or the like requiring removal, the replacement of broken windows and fixtures as well as all the handrails along the stairwells.
As previously reported by the San Benito News, City Manager Manuel Lara has previously stated that although such matters should have been resolved long ago, it wasn’t until an August 27 fire at the hotel that brought the building’s dilapidation to the city’s attention.
A once celebrated attraction during its heyday, Stonewall Jackson, located at 220 E. Stenger St., was erected in 1927 and is considered a historical landmark in San Benito.
Read this story in the March 3 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.