Co-Chair Palacios Preservation Association
A judge granted a temporary restraining order blocking demolition of the Luther Hotel until a hearing on Feb. 2, to allow more time to find a solution to this problem, said Edith Gower, Palacios Preservation Association.
“The Luther Hotel, historic centerpiece of Palacios Texas, has stood up to six major hurricanes in her 120 years, but now two lawyers could bring her down,” she said.
“Given its longevity, the hotel has probably contributed more to the Palacios economy than any other single business in the city,” she added.
“After a two-month effort to save this local landmark and national treasure we are down to the wire,” Gower said in a recent press release.
“The National Trust for Historic Preservation, The Texas Historical Commission and Preservation Texas have stepped forward to support her too,” she said.
“The Ed Rachal Foundation of Corpus Christi has a contract to purchase the land from the estate of Jack Findley, the owner of the hotel who died two and a half years ago without a will.”
The 32 heirs are represented by Richard Leshin of Welder Leshin Law Firm, also of Corpus Christi.
The contract is not complete until the heirs destroy the building, Gower said.
“The Foundation has swept into Palacios buying up lots of land, particularly along the waterfront. They say that they want to build an extended-stay, family-friendly hotel on the site,” she noted.
“The Luther has been that for 120 years.
“The Foundation already owns land where they can build such a modern hotel if they desire.
“Last summer the City of Palacios closed the hotel due to code violations and both the city and the Foundation went from code violations to ‘there is no way to save this,’” Gower said.
“No professional preservationist has been allowed inside to evaluate the building, but they have seen the inspection reports with photos from inside and driven around the outside to say that there is absolutely no reason the Luther should not be saved,” she said.
“The property was never on the open market, but because of the widespread publicity of its plight, investors have stepped up and made a counteroffer to restore the building and with more money for the heirs,” she pointed out.
The foundation could terminate their current contract or agree to strike the demolition clause and lease the land to the investors who want to restore and operate the hotel, Gower points out.
“Leshin, lawyer for the estate, says that he does not have an obligation to communicate with the heirs, just the executrix who is 92 years old and defers to him,” Gower said.
“He sends her information, but accompanied by an admonition that they will be sued by the Foundation if their contract is altered, or another offer is entertained,” she said.
Because the hotel has a Texas Historic Marker and is on the National Register of Historic Places, the Texas Historical Commission put a 90-day moratorium on the demolition that was half over when the public found out about it, she said.
“The Palacios Preservation Association formed to find a win-win solution to this problem, and continues to ask only for time to sort out a solution before the building is torn down and it becomes a moot point.
The CEO of the Rachal Foundation said that he remains unresponsive and his legal counsel said that he doesn’t believe either party intends to amend the existing contract,” Gower said.
“The demolition permit has been applied for and the foundation - that is supposed to have nothing to do with the building, only the land - said it would not be torn down before Jan. 15, so time is up as soon as the city issues the permit.
“Standing in front of the bulldozers will not be a pretty sight,” she remarked.
“Lady Luther just needs a new breath of life to serve her community for many more years.
She said 1,800 signers of the “Save the Luther” petition from across Matagorda County join Palacios residents in demanding justice for the Luther.
She asked people to sign the Save the Luther Hotel petition on change.org https://chng.it/fJw8ztkSwz.
For more information people may join the Palacios Preservation Committee Facebook page or email egowerpalacios@gmail.com.
Edith Gower, Co-Chair
Palacios Preservation Association
503 East Bayshore Drive
Palacios, TX 77465
egowerpalacios@gmail.com
713-702-7700