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Beaumont City Council could give Gilbert Building owner five days to tear it down

The historic downtown structure went up in flames on June 6, since then the building has been tagged as an imminent danger.

BEAUMONT, Texas — The Beaumont City Council is set to decide the fate of the Gilbert Building more than a week after a fire tore through it.

The historic downtown structure went up in flames on June 6, since then the building has been tagged as an imminent danger.

On Tuesday, city leaders are set to vote on an ordinance that would give the building owner Tom Flanagan five days to tear down the structure. If he doesn't comply the city would be forced to step in and tear down the building.

If the city moves forward it could cost tax payers $1 million. Councilman Mike Getz tells 12News the city hired an engineering company to evaluate the Gilbert Building.

A report from the city that came back last week reveals that while the building's exterior could be saved the inside is structurally unsafe.

RELATED: Gilbert Building deemed 'unsafe structure,' Beaumont City Council to consider ordering demolition

"Nobody wants to see it go away but at this point it's going to be made structurally safe or it's going to have to be demolished," Getz said.

Getz says the building's presence poses a danger to the public.

"When it comes to public safety you can't put a value on that. It is structurally dangerous right now. If you insured it up and tried to redevelop it that could be done but you're talking about lots of money and that's not going to come from the city," said Getz.

12News spoke with Flanagan about the possible timeline.

"Five days is not reasonable amount of time to do anything you can't get a permit or a contractor," he said.

Getz agrees the timeline is aggressive but says if the city does decide to green light the ordinance and Flanagan doesn't comply in time the city could be left footing the bill.

"It's going to costs at least $1 million, it has asbestos in it. If the city ends up having to tear the building down that is going to be tax payers dollars used for that. and even though the city could send the bill to the owner the chances of recovery of that money is almost nonexistent," Getz said.

The buildings is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. On Tuesday, Flanagan plans to ask city council for more time to find a solution.

"We're going to ask for 60 days to do a thorough investigation on the building. Full engineering report and either a plan to save it or demolish it," Flanagan said.

Flanagan says despite the fire, his engineers believe the buildings internal steel columns were protected by paint. 

The city council meeting is set for Tuesday, June 18 at 1:30 p.m. in City Hall.

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