A new report by an independent engineering firm recommends the demolition of a vacant 1915 campus building at San Antonio Independent School District’s Beacon Hill Academy.
But City officials are not convinced.
For years, the district has remained in a state of limbo regarding the structure: the building has apparent flaws – from cracks in the brick exterior to internal water stains on the walls and ceiling – but SAISD lacks the money for a renovation or demolition.
The district commissioned a report by Raba Kistner Consultants to evaluate the structural integrity of the building.
Even though the firm “had hoped for the possibility of restoration” prior to its site visit in early April, it concluded that the building is “not salvageable,” according to the report. Issues include rainwater damage to the roof and deteriorated flooring.
The last remnant of the defunct Beacon Hill Elementary School has sat vacant for nearly 20 years on the same property as SAISD’s Beacon Hill Academy, built in 1999.
The report indicates that since the 1915 building was occupied, building materials, including metal, plaster, and cement have deteriorated, creating a one- to two-inch-thick “sea of ‘mush’ on the floor.”
Councilman Roberto Treviño (D1), whose district includes Beacon Hill, said he is concerned that the report commissioned by SAISD is not comprehensive. City officials visited Beacon Hill on Monday and are in the process of proposing a more in-depth evaluation of the building. Treviño said this proposal could be ready by the end of this week.
“It is probable that, if subjected to a high wind event such as a tornado, the roof system would be destroyed, leaving the upper perimeter masonry walls in jeopardy of partial or full collapse,” a manager from Raba Kistner wrote in the SAISD report.
Treviño, who is an architect by trade, said that using a tornado as a measure of stability is potentially problematic.
“The report simply says the building would fall if a tornado would hit it,” he said. “Well, so would other buildings.”
Raba Kistner recommends the building be demolished “as soon as possible,” and until then be encircled by a barricade one-and-a-half times taller than the building’s walls to protect any passersby.
“We don’t use the old building and do not have a need for it,” SAISD spokeswoman Leslie Price told the Rivard Report in an e-mail. “It is in poor condition and our preference is to have the building demolished. Removing it would provide for more playground space.”
Treviño said a more comprehensive evaluation might offer different conclusions. He and architects at the Office of Historic Preservation feel there is no evidence that the building is in danger of collapsing, he added.
Prior to the commissioned report, Treviño asked the Beacon Hill community to consider the possibility of a renovation, noting that the structure would be eligible for historic designation. Treviño said the building was constructed in 1915 and designed by architect Leo Dielmann.
SAISD officials repeatedly cited lack of funding as a reason for keeping the building on campus in its dilapidated state. District officials have estimated a complete renovation would cost between $5 million and $6 million, and a demolition would run between $250,000 and $300,000.
For a March 1 meeting with the community and COPS Metro Alliance, Treviño prepared a plan that included proposed funding mechanisms to bankroll the renovation. Some of these options included a historic preservation tax credit to recoup 25 percent of eligible rehab costs and a federal historic preservation tax incentive to credit 20 percent of the expenses.
At the meeting, Treviño acknowledged that these mechanisms would not cover the total cost of a renovation, but that the building merited saving. He reflected on San Antonio celebrating its Tricentennial, and the fact that the original Beacon Hill campus building had existed for one-third of the city’s history.
Treviño said the community could use the refurbished building as a tech center, library pop up, or expansion for the school.
SAISD Trustee Christina Martinez, whose District 6 includes Beacon Hill Academy, committed to finding the funds to demolish the old building if a teardown was deemed necessary and approved through the proper channels.
“The next step is to wait and hear what the City of San Antonio says,” Martinez said. “An upcoming meeting with district and City staff to go over the findings should happen soon. We are working to keep the families and staff updated as more information is made
available.”
CPS Energy, the Office of Historic Preservation, and an arborist from the City of San Antonio must sign off before a demolition permit can be considered.
In 2015, area residents circulated a petition to demolish the building. Signers described the building as an “eyesore,” questioning whether its existence caused health and safety issues. In April 2015, SAISD asked the City about a potential demolition.
OHP and the subcommittee for designation and demolition visited the building in May 2015, and told SAISD that the building was eligible for historic designation and demolition would not be approved.
At that time, OHP did not find evidence of significant structural deficiencies.
A parent to two Beacon Hill Elementary students, Michelle Ricondo said she doesn’t care whether the building gets demolished or renovated – she just wants to see some action.
“As a parent, we just want something to be done,” she told the Rivard Report.
Ricondo said she has heard about SAISD’s report and has been told the City is working to prepare its own assessment, lamenting the lack of a clear timeline for action.
Treviño agreed with Ricondo, saying action needed to be taken “yesterday,” but he acknowledged that he isn’t in the position to “pull the trigger” as the building is on SAISD property, and the process must go through City administrative departments.
Weary? Or wary? I think you meant the latter.
Yes, we did. Thank you for pointing that out, Lisa!
Typically short-sighted SAISD! For the past 20 years the Beacon Hill building, had it been properly cared for before being intentionally allowed to deteriorate, could have been an asset to the neighborhood and credit to SAISD. San Antonio already has lost the beautiful Brackenridge, Fox Tech and Lanier high schools and Poe Middle School. It’s hard for me to believe SAISD has allowed Jefferson High School and Alamo Stadium to stand since the District seems to so much enjoy destroying beauty and replacing it with eyesores.
I have no opinion on whether or not to save this structure. How remarkable, however, that this building is over a century old, has been abandoned for years, and it would still take a direct hit by a tornado to knock it down. It was built to last!
I went to Beacon Hill years ago and loved and admired the architecture. They should renovate the property to make more classroom space for the expansion of grades to the academy. This building is part of San Antonio history and tearing it down would be a true tragedy.
I agree my siblings and I all went to Beacon Hill from kinder through sixth grade. I hope the city can save this landmark.
Judy Toscano Martinez
I was a Campaign Manager for a $483 Milton dollar bond in 1994 or 1995, and the new Beacon Hill school had already been constructed, so the dates in the article are off by 5 or 6 years.
If a tornado hits, the older structure is more likely to stand than the newer school.
During the bond campaign, SAISD officials met with the Conservation Society and pledged to repurpose the old school. With that assurance the Conservation Society endorsed the bonds which easily passed. Nevertheless, the SAISD has reneged on agreements, allowed demolition by neglect, and now wants to tear down a salvageable and historic property. May as well give it away, SAISD is giving away the rest of the district.
I suggested a use about 15 years ago when CPS was encouraging installing solar panels on rooftops under contract to CPS, but SAISD failed to act. As I understand it, forward-thinking districts like Alamo Heights earned significant revenue for school kids by their partnering with CPS, while, once again the stodgy SAISD (non) leadership was left holding the bag.
Unfortunately this is not the only example of broken promises.
Hi Bob! Thanks for insight. This is straight from Beacon Hill’s website and was confirmed by SAISD staff: “In 1999, a new schoolhouse was constructed and the title was Beacon Hill Elementary School.”
Why is this dilapidated 1905 structure in purview of COSA to decide to renovate? SAISD should just transfer ownership to COSA and be done with this,regardless of securing outside funding “credits” ; Let CCD #1 utilize there
municipal district monies on this restoration project.
Exactly, transfer the building to COSA and enter into a ground lease for $1/year.
If transferred to them, they’ll just let the building sit there and the school will be in the same situation. Treviño, and other representatives, have been claiming that their going to do something with it for years and and all that’s come of it are nonsense solutions that are impractical and have no timeline. The building needs to be knocked down for the safety of the kids at Beacon Hill.
A memorable building. Better than anything we can build today, with all our advantages save one: imagination.
This alone is why it should be saved.
Put the shovel down and quit digging a larger budget deficit.
This old piece of junk has brick, metal, and who knows what else falling off of it. It’s been a hazard to the students and the neighborhood for some time now, and that’s why it’s been fenced off for years. They just put a larger fence around it because of the new report. Now the kids have an even smaller playground. Meanwhile, the soccer team has to practice in the parking lot! Simply demolishing this failing and dangerous building and putting grass down would service the students and community in a tremendous way. The Preservation society has had 20 years to save this building and all they’ve done is talk and come up with impractical nonsense. The community wants it down, the school NEEDS it down, for the safety of their students and teachers, and it’s time it comes down.
“SAISD officials repeatedly cited lack of funding as a reason for keeping the building on campus in its dilapidated state. District officials have estimated a complete renovation would cost between $5 million and $6 million, and a demolition would run between $250,000 and $300,000.”
Budgets are often used to push an agenda, and this statement appears to misrepresent actual costs that would be required to resolve the situation. Sure, it might take only a few hundred thousand to demolish the building (questionable, but we’ll just take that at face value for the time being). However, the cost of performing the very expensive environmental remediation that would be mandatory prior to any new construction, plus the cost of actually building the new playground area, are completely omitted in SAISD’s comments. Meanwhile, I’m sure the costs presented for renovation were fully loaded with all remediation, etc.
This is misleading agenda-pushing. When coupled with Bob Comeaux’s previous comment about preservation promises made to secure a prior bond election, it’s clear Council should review these figures in more depth before making decisions about how much of San Antonio’s history it wants to demolish in the face of progress.