City to demolish historic ruins at Bluff Springs, citing threat to public safety - Austin Monitor

"City staff are stepping in to put the remains of a former Texas Historic Landmark in South Austin out of its misery, after decades of neglect have left the 173 year old ruins a threat to public safety. The structure at 6706 Bluff Springs Road, which was once home to prominent political figures at the dawn of Texas' statehood, has languished for nearly three decades since a fire that left it an assemblage of dilapidated limestone walls."

""There was a very highly publicized encampment here in the spring that the city expended thousands of dollars to clean up," said Historic Preservation Division Manager Kim McKnight. "Obviously, it's been on our radar for 30 years... but we have people actively camping between walls that are not stable and it's very, very serious." After reaching an agreement with the Texas Historical Commission, the Development Services Department secured the permit from the City's Historic Landmark Commission to proceed with demolition."

The 173-year-old Duval-Horton House ruins at 6706 Bluff Springs Road in South Austin were largely reduced to dilapidated limestone walls by a 1996 fire. The unsecured lot has become one of the area's largest encampment sites, creating serious public-safety hazards as people camp between unstable walls. Owner David Hemassi inherited the property after his father Majid's death and has not remedied the site. The city reached agreement with the Texas Historical Commission and obtained a Historic Landmark Commission permit to demolish the ruins. A Building and Standards Commission order has accrued roughly $300,000 in penalties, and demolition costs will be added to the owner's bill.

Read at Austin Monitor