Published: November 09, 2009 10:26 am      

Out of the ashes

By Barry Porterfield

Staff Writer



Out of the ashes comes a deal that Pauls Valley city officials hope will bring life to the site of an old downtown hotel destroyed by fire in September.

The long-vacant Alvis Hotel at the corner of Paul and Santa Fe streets was at the center of the town’s attention when the fire broke out early the morning of Sept. 24.

Attention has returned to the corner as a Pauls Valley man is cleaning up the fire’s aftermath. In return, Larry Wallace gets the corner lot which was deeded to the city of Pauls Valley by the site’s former owner after the fire.

Pauls Valley Mayor Tim Gamble said the exchange represents a good deal for the city, which would have been forced to pay for the demolition of the remaining structure. Besides saving the demolition costs, the new plan creates the possibility for the site to someday be revitalized.

“From the council’s perspective we were much more receptive to someone coming in and restoring that lot to a commercial business,” Gamble said. “This is so much better than having a hole in our community.”

Wallace, who works in construction, said the lot is a real opportunity. “At first I was going to bid the demolition. Then I told the city I would clean it up if they would let me have it,” Wallace said.

“I tried to buy it 15 years ago and got pretty excited about it. I’m pretty excited about it now,” he said.

Starting his demolition work a few days ago, Wallace plans to keep an eye on history and the future during the process. His plan is to save as many remaining parts of the structure as possible, which in turn would be incorporated into any new structure created at the site.

“Right now I’m working to see how much can be salvaged and to get it safe so these streets can be opened up,” Wallace said.

“I’ve hauled off I don’t know how many tons of steel,” he said.

Wallace plans to save a three-story section in the back of the hotel property and at least the first floor of the front facade. Constructed in the late 1890s, the front features sandstone arches.

He said more from that front section likely could have been saved had it not been for the masonry cement used in the brick mortar, considered a lower quality cement with a life expectancy of 80 to 100 years if exposed to the elements.

There are also plans for the bricks that do come down. Many will be restored and later sold, while others have a special interest for Wallace. A handful of different kinds of bricks he’s already found have added plenty to his personal collection.

Also surviving the fire is a three-story section that represents an addition to the original hotel structure. Built in the 1920s, the section is damaged but described as “solid as a rock.” Wallace thinks it could possibly be renovated into a couple of loft apartments.

His plans for the main area of the site remain uncertain. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do with it. Whatever I can afford, whatever I want to do with it I guess.”

Wallace wants to finish the demolition work soon, which will allow the streets in front and to the side of the hotel property to again open up to traffic.

Gamble said the City Council agreed it was a good deal to have Wallace do the demolition work in exchange for owning the property.

“Instead of cash money for the demolition he gets the lot,” Gamble said. “He’s taking down all the bad parts and salvaging what he can. The entire plan is to keep all the old when they renovate. From the perspective of the city it’s wonderful.”