Historic Victorian Inn Likely Set for Demolition

Victorian Inn caught fire two weeks ago

Two weeks after catching fire. a historic Fort Worth building in the Fairmount Neighborhood is likely going to be demolished.

The Victorian Inn Motel Apartments, built in 1922, suffered significant damage during an early morning fire on Jan. 24. The building was vacant at the time and vagrants are suspected of starting it.

The building was on Historic Fort Worth's list of the most endangered places in Fort Worth for 2011, mostly because it was vacant and when buildings sit vacant they're at risk for things like fires.

"The longer they're empty the more trouble can happen," said Jerre Tracy, executive director of Historic Fort Worth.

On Monday, the owners of the Victorian will go before the city's Historic and Cultural Landmark Commission to get a certificate allowing for the demolition of the structure. Co-owner Steve Cocanower said the city told him hours after the fire that it needed to be torn down.

Cocanower's group only recently took over the property and had a plan in place to rehabilitate the site.

Sue McLean, the Director of Historic Preservation for the Farimount Neighborhood Association, said the association was looking forward to seeing the building become something again but are disappointed to see what the fire has done.

While it appears that one piece of Fort Worth history is likely headed for the wrecking ball, Tracy hopes other buildings that sit in similar conditions can be saved. Tracy says the T&P Warehouse on Lancaster, the Public Market building on Henderson and the old TXU power plant off North Main Street are all on Historic Fort Worth's list of endangered places. She says saving them is important in keeping Fort Worth's heritage and history alive.

"One of the things that sets us apart from other cities in our region is our collection of historic buildings," Tracy said.

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