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Public and board members urge action to protect Hurley Weston house and Empire Theatre elements
Summary
A public commenter and several board members urged Stockton’s Cultural Heritage Board to take more proactive steps to protect the Hurley Weston house and remaining fabric from the Empire Theatre, including inviting property owners to discuss plans and engaging the façade subcommittee.
At the October 2023 Stockton Cultural Heritage Board meeting, public commenter Robert Holzer urged the board to take "more affirmative action" to protect the Hurley Weston house and to contact property owners about preservation plans.
Holzer described the Hurley Weston house as one of the city’s landmark buildings and said he fears its loss after past fire damage in a rear garage area. He asked the board to write a letter to the homeowner expressing concern and requesting the owner’s intentions, saying a board-originated letter would carry more weight than his individual outreach.
Holzer also criticized demolition activity at the Miracle Mile’s Empire Theatre, noting the blade sign was removed but the marquee appears to have been discarded. He suggested the developer be invited to a board meeting to present plans and to meet with the board’s façade subcommittee to discuss salvage and integration of remaining historic elements.
Board members responded by encouraging outreach to owners and developers. One member recommended that the façade subcommittee be the first point of contact for the Empire Theatre developer so the board could provide timely recommendations — such as encouraging the preservation of any remaining historic assets for future integration into new design.
Several members acknowledged historical constraints that had limited past action. A member apologized for earlier assumptions that a building already had landmark status and noted that litigation previously limited the board’s ability to act. Another member defended cooperative relationships with preservation organizations, saying such ties are an asset rather than a conflict of interest when any public entity or nonprofit proposes acquisition or rehabilitation strategies.
No formal action was taken during the meeting on the Hurley Weston house or the Empire Theatre; board members said invitations to owners or developers and possible meetings of the façade subcommittee would be appropriate next steps.
