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Beaumont council declares downtown Gilbert Building an imminent danger and authorizes demolition
Summary
After months of inspections, an engineerrecommended demolition and council voted to order removal of the burned, unstable Gilbert Building within five days; owner and engineers argued for stabilization and proposed a repair plan.
Beaumont City Council voted to declare the Gilbert Building (328—10Bowie/486—498 Pearl Street) an imminent danger and authorized staff to demolish the structure if the owner does not raise it within five days.
The council action follows months of inspections after a June 2024 fire. City building officials and an independent structural engineer told council loose masonry and interior fire damage left the structure unsafe for workers and the public. Demi Engman, the city planner involved in the file, said an engineer's March 5 assessment concluded "this is an imminent danger and should be resolved immediately." Building official Boyd Myer said inspectors found falling debris and unsecured façade elements and had placarded the building as unsafe to enter.
The item drew extended public comment and technical testimony. Owner Tom Flanagan and structural engineers from Alliance Engineers, including Rob Fusilier and Josh Reeves, argued the building is salvageable and presented an engineering program to shore and restore the roof and upper floors. Fusilier said inspections of interior cast-iron columns showed "no concern as far as the structural integrity of the columns themselves," and described a reinforcement plan that he said could enable full restoration. Flanagan said he has mobilized contractors and consultants and asked more time; his team estimated a construction execution phase of several months after approvals.
City engineers and safety staff countered that certain elements remain loose and that scaffolding could not be removed safely until further interior demolition and stabilization were completed. The city's contracted engineer, Terry Shipman, told council that the building posed an immediate hazard because of loose coping and falling debris observed while crews demobilized scaffolding.
Council members debated the competing assessments but ultimately approved an ordinance ordering the structure raised within five days and authorizing the city to demolish the structure without further council action if the owner does not comply. The motion passed on a voice vote after a motion and second; mayoral and council members signified assent and there was no roll-call record of dissent on the record.
City staff said the cost to demolish the building if the city must do the work is about $400,000, and that the usual collection process would apply: the city would invoice the owner for demolition costs and could place a lien on the property if costs are not reimbursed. Flanagan and his engineers said the owner will continue to pursue a stabilization plan and asked the city to accept the engineering package they said is nearing completeness.
The council's order follows an earlier series of council directions that required the owner to present a plan and meet interim deadlines; staff told the council that the specific condition requiring disclosure of timelines to council had not been satisfied by the March 11 deadline. The council action clears the way for demolition if the owner does not immediately take the corrective steps the building official identified.
Council and staff said public safety was the controlling concern.
Ending: The city will publish the formal demolition timeline and any contractor notices on its website; staff said additional engineering documentation provided by the owner will be reviewed to confirm whether any last-minute stabilization can be completed before the five-day raise order deadline.
