Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Historic commission approves demolition of contributing 'bunkhouse' at 610 Second Street
Summary
League City Historic District Commission on Sept. 11 unanimously approved a Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish a contributing structure known as the bunkhouse at 610 Second Street after staff said the building is unsafe and repair estimates far exceeded demolition costs; salvageable materials will be stored for future reuse.
The League City Historic District Commission on Sept. 11 approved a Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish a contributing structure known locally as the “bunkhouse” at 610 Second Street (HC-25-007610), voting unanimously, 5-0.
Planning Department staff presented photos and a condition assessment and said the building official deemed the structure unsafe. Ann Williams of the Planning Department told the commission the applicant provided estimates showing roughly $71,500 to repair the building versus $8,050 to demolish it. Williams said staff had concluded repair was an unreasonable cost and that other options had been explored without success.
An applicant who addressed the commission said salvagable architectural materials — windows, siding and other historic elements — will be removed and stored with the local historical society for possible reuse in restoring other buildings or rebuilding a similar structure if a site becomes available. The applicant said efforts by the historical society to restore the structure earlier had been tried and then returned to the city after the project was judged to be too large.
The commission opened a public hearing before taking action. After discussion, a motion to approve the certificate of appropriateness to demolish the contributing structure carried unanimously. The meeting record shows the commission voted 5-0 in favor; no individual mover or seconder was recorded on the public audio.
The Planning Department indicated the demolition will move forward with a plan to salvage historic materials for safekeeping. No funding commitments for reconstruction or reuse were discussed at the meeting, and no replacement site was specified.
The commission’s action resolves the immediate safety concern identified by the building official and authorizes demolition under the city’s historic district review process. Staff confirmed photographs in the record were taken Aug. 12 and used in the commission’s review.
The commission took no other formal action related to reconstruction or reuse; staff and the historical society will retain salvaged materials in storage for potential future use.
