The city of Beaumont will end a long debate Tuesday, when council members vote to pursue purchasing the old AT&T call center building downtown.
The building along the 500 block of Main Street hasn't been used in a couple years and the city hopes to utilize the property for riverfront development in an effort to spur economic growth.
"I do think that everyone wants to see private-public partnerships where it's not just the city doing this because we don't want to run a hotel or a restaurant," says Mayor Becky Ames. "Many times when you put that infrastructure in, those private investors and developers will come and I know there's a lot of interest out there because we've heard it."
The idea hasn't come without opposition and councilman Mike Getz tells 12News there is no interest from buyers that he's heard.
"I have asked the city mayor and manager to share with me what their vision is to change my mind and get me to support what they want to do," says Getz. "All they can tell me is that if this building is demolished and the land is vacant that a developer may come in here."
He also points to infrastructure across the street that he feels would deter investors from wanting to conduct business.
"As long as you have Crockett Street sitting over here gathering dust, you're not likely to get a developer to get in here and build more of the same," says Getz. "So, it just doesn't make a lot of sense."
The conflict over the building itself has grown past just purchasing it but the cost of the property as well.
Last summer, the city said it would cost $1 million to buy and demolish the old AT&T building.
Yet, there are reports of asbestos and flooding inside that could raise the price.
The vote Tuesday afternoon inside city hall will determine if city manager Kyle Hayes will be authorized to make a bid on the property during an online auction in mid-February.
If the majority of council members choose to say yes, the bidding process will include a $25,000 deposit from the city of Beaumont which will be refunded if they don't end up receiving the property.
Ames says there isn't a specific plan for what will replace the vacant space, but tells us a restaurant and hotel are options.
She adds the city could benefit from the success other cities with waterfront development have created (Houston, San Antonio and New Orleans).
"We have done several plans throughout the years if we were able to put some hands on some riverfront property," says Ames. "This is the last piece that we are aware of that will ever come about so this is our chance."
She adds this land won't necessarily breed the infrastructure to provide a new "boom" in Beaumont but it would be a good start.
Councilman Getz has been against the city pursuing the building for months.
Getz tells us he does support the idea of trying to create new development along the Neches River, but doesn't believe it should come out the taxpayers pockets.
"I know what this is all about, we all want to see something in Beaumont like the wheelhouse in Port Neches," says Getz. "I do too, but it all needs to be done by the private sector and not by the city of Beaumont."
The mayor says she understands the opposing side, but believes Beaumont can balance funds in an effort to grow the city.
"I think it will help us enhance downtown Beaumont, but I know a lot of people think that's not what we should do with our tax dollars," says Ames. "I do believe that our first priority is streets, drainage, fire and police which we support but we also have to be rounded."
Councilman Getz added that there is a local corporation who is interested in the nearly 50-year-old building which stands four stories tall.
He wouldn't specify who it is, but says the city shouldn't prevent a Beaumont company from attempting to expand.
"There's a corporation here locally who would like to buy this building and make it their corporate headquarters, moving 100 employees into this building," says Getz. "The city of Beaumont should be helping to facilitate something like that not get in the way."
The vote to allow the city to bid for the old AT&T building will take place at 1:30 p.m. during a public session on Tuesday inside city hall.
An online auction for the property will take place between February 11th and 13th if Beaumont decides to pursue the empty space.