Friday, April 19, 2024
The Granbury Historic Properties board voted Tuesday (March 22) to approve the sale of the building just off the square that served as Granbury’s first hospital and was a dormitory for actors and stagehands working at the Opera House.
The board also voted to allocate proceeds of the sale to help pay off debts associated with the Opera House.
The board is composed of City Manager Chris Coffman (president), Police Chief Mitch Galvan (vice president), and Utilities Director Rick Crownover (secretary/treasurer).
Jeff Newpher, the city’s communications manager, said he did not know when the matter might go before the City Council.
“It is my understanding the parties are not close enough to even set a date for Council action,” he stated in an email to the Hood County News.
However, Claudia Southern, who attended the meeting, told the HCN of the board’s votes to approve the sale and allocate the proceeds.
She said that the purchase offer is $500,000.
She also said that, although the name of the buyer was not stated publicly, the board said the buyer is an LLC.
Southern said that the board agreed on a time period for the buyer to inspect the property prior to the sale, which is standard.
Built in 1942, the city-owned building at 116 S. Houston St. has been unoccupied since it was condemned by the city in December 2017.
At that time, the city had been involved in a years-long lease agreement with the Granbury Theatre Company.
City officials said the property was condemned due to safety hazards and code violations. Those living there at the time were forced to leave.
A few months later, the City Council pondered a best course of action for the city-owned property. The discussion included the cost of asbestos abatement and the likelihood that the building contains lead paint.
It was agreed that Coffman would pursue possible grant funds and consult with stakeholders who wanted to save the building.
Coffman noted that saving the building would prove more costly than originally anticipated.
