The Yorktown City Council postpone consideration of condemnation proceedings on the 1950s-era Memorial Hospital building at its Monday, Nov. 17, meeting, according to the building’s San Antonio owners.
Co-owner Fred Garza-Guzman said the council heard his and his partner’s case for saving the reportedly “haunted” building during a two-hour hearing and voted to table any action for the time being.
“The City Council will convene again to discuss next steps following a separate meeting with us, the mayor and the city administrator to be scheduled after the Thanksgiving break,” Garza-Guzman said. “While we are disappointed that the possibility of adverse action remains, we do consider this a victory and are looking forward to working with the City of Yorktown.”
Efforts by the Yorktown News-Review to obtain comment about the hearing from city administration by phone and email were unsuccessful.
The owners, who conduct tours of the closed hospital under the business name of Curious Twins Paranormal and Ghost Tours of San Antonio, say they are seeking historical preservation designations for the building.
Yorktown Memorial Hospital was built in 1950 and opened in 1951 by the Felician Sisters. It was a 21bed hospital dedicated to honoring the casualties from both World Wars. It closed in 1986 and was reopened as a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center until 1992.
Garza-Guzman said several people from Yorktown and out-oftown showed up at the hearing to support their effort to preserve the hospital building.
“All of the advocacies made a difference, and we appreciate the support,” Garza-Guzman said.
City officials first notified the owners of their concerns about the building being a danger to the public and ordered entry to it stopped Aug. 22 after an inspection. The owners resumed the tours in September as a member program rather than it being open to the public after consulting a lawyer.
Garza-Guzman said he was surprised when city officials notified them of plans to reinspect the building in October.
A report by City Inspector Bureau Veritas dated Oct. 16 included 54 photographs of deteriorating conditions inside and outside the building at 728 W. Main St. Veritas determined that the building “violates the standards as provided by the Substandard Building Ordinance of the City of Yorktown.” The report cited 10 deficiencies, including the danger of the building being “liable to partially or fully collapse” in determining that it is a public nuisance.
City officials advised the owners of the public hearing in a letter dated Nov. 4. It said the city could order the building repaired or demolished, unless proof is provided at the hearing of a “reasonable projected timeline” to bring the property into compliance.
Garza-Guzman said that he and his business and life partner, Stephen Garza-Guzman, are committed to saving the building because of its historical and cultural significance.
