BEAUMONT, Texas — The Beaumont City Council has decided 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.
Gilbert Building owner Tom Flanagan addressed the council, pleading with them to reconsider their vote that would give him a five day deadline to tear the building down.
"We're asking for a 30-day period and we will have on the mayor and the manager's desk, our plan for demolition or our plan to renovate the building," Flanagan said during the meeting.
On Tuesday, city leaders voted to table the item of the building's fate for 60 days. They also agreed to a six-foot fence to be erected within five business days around the building.
"We're happy with the results, that the city decided to work with us to give us time to put a plan together," said Flanagan.
Flanagan spoke during the meeting and asked for the 60 day to arrive at the decision to demolish or renovate building, saying he will finance the process himself.
Councilman Taylor Neild supported offering Flanagan an extended deadline.
"Where I struggle is only allowing the property owner five days to make a decision to move forward on this. We need the owner to do a feasibility report to see if it's salvageable and you can't do that in five days," Neild said.
Previously the city gave Flanagan only five days to decide what to do with the building.
If the city moves forward with demolition, it could cost tax payers $1 million. Councilman Mike Getz previously told 12News the city hired an engineering company to evaluate the Gilbert Building.
12News spoke with Mayor Pro Tem, Albert "AJ" Turner ahead of today's meeting. He says he wants to avoid using taxpayer's money if the city does have to step in.
"What would happen if another one goes down tomorrow? It might not be Tom's. It could be anybody else's. So we have to look at all the facts and how much revenue is going to cost us, and right now cities grow off population and sales tax, and property tax. Neither one of those are really going up drastic, so we got to be very conservative in our spending and make wise decisions on what we choose to put this revenue towards," said Turner.
Beaumont Fire Chief Earl White and building official Boyd Meier have labeled the Gilbert Building as "unsafe".
"Do you think that your investigators will be able to go into that building and investigate further?" said Councilman Chris Durio during the meeting.
"Not in its current condition. It's been detained as an unsafe structure, and that's for everyone," Meier answered.
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.
The Texas Historical Commission says that even if only the façade remained, Beaumont would benefit from its beauty.
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 previously 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 previous five-day timeline.
"Five days is not reasonable amount of time to do anything, you can't get a permit or a contractor," he said.
Getz agreed 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.
Flanagan says despite the fire, his engineers believe the buildings internal steel columns were protected by paint.
"I've never been through a fire this dramatic, but we have a pretty good understanding of the building. I think we can have a plan in 60 days or something close to it," he said.