Milam County Historical Commission
Milam County, Texas
Milam County, Texas
Cameo Building Allowed Study
Rockdale Reporter - April 11, 2013
New look okayed at 1880s structure
An 1880s-era downtown building, which was ordered demolished by the city’s Building
Standards Commission last month, has gotten at least a temporary reprieve from the city
council.
The council voted unanimously Monday to hear additional evidence from a structural
engineer on effects of demolishing the Cameo Insurance building on adjacent structures.
... Owner Gloria Thrasher appealed to the council to set aside the commission’s
demolition order, saying she had plans to renovate the structure, which was damaged
Aug. 29-30, 2012, when a 125-year-old firewall collapsed.
CATCH 22 - In a procedural “Catch-22” situation, Thrasher was not allowed to mention
her assertion that she had received the green light to proceed with the renovation from
a structural engineer she said had inspected the building.
That’s because the inspection occurred after the commission’s March 6 hearing and was
not part of the evidence presented at that hearing.
By law, in an appeal the council can only consider evidence presented at the original
hearing. The inspection was referenced in a front-page story in the March 14 Reporter.
Thrasher pointed out she only acquired full ownership of the building two days before
the March hearing and is making some progress toward renovation.
“The debris has been cleaned up, she said. “I did hire a structural engineer, although
I’m not allowed to present that finding to you.”
She challenged the city’s assertion that the building had been inspected the day after
the wall fell. “I don’t think they ever went inside,”she said.
City Attorney Michelle Lehmkuhl said the bui lding was entered but “they didn’t spend
much time in there because of safety concerns.”
HOLE - Thrasher noted the Cameo building has shared walls and that its demolition would
affect five adjacent structures. “If it’s torn down those other buildings will be in
jeopardy,” she said. “Water that’s not coming in now will get in.”
Council member Joyce Dalley said she had visited the Elgin City Council, which is
facing a similar situation.
“If a hole opens up in your downtown I was told it will be about 50 to 60 years before
another building is built to fill that hole.
“I’d like to see a plan for stabilizing the structure and preserving the facade,” she
said.
Vandalism concerns were also mentioned in the event a “hole” opens up between
buildings.
“I don’t think we have enough information to make a decision yet,” council member Toby
Johnson said. She suggested a structural engineer be employed to look at the building
and determine the effects of demolition on the adjacent structures.
On a unanimous vote, the council, at least for now, set aside the demolition order
pending information acquired from the new inspection.
Depending on the results, the matter could go back before the Building Standards
Commission.
.