SAN ANTONIO – UPDATE: The commission voted 7 in favor and 1 opposed. A spokeswoman for the Office of Historic Preservation's Development Services Department said "that demolition may be approved only if the commission approves the replacement plans and they have proof of financial means."
ORIGINAL STORY: Commissioners met Wednesday to weigh the facts and move toward making a decision that could determine the fate of the old Malt House restaurant.
"Whatever the commission action is, it’s issued within 10 days," said Shanon Miller, director of the city of San Antonio's Office of Historic Preservation.
Miller said the commission can issue a binding decision or essentially table it, in lieu of mandated changes.
"They could approve or deny or approve with some stipulations. They could request changes or continue the case," Miller said.
One of those in the audience at the hearing, Gianna Rendon, works as a community activist for Esperanza Peace and Justice Center.
"I grew up going to the Malt House. Me, my mom and my dad would go when it was very hot outside in the summer," Rendon said.
Rendon feels the proposal to demolish the old Malt House and replace it with a convenience store and a bus stop is being pursued for the wrong reasons.
But developer Bill Kaufman, who has worked closely with the family who owns the Malt House, said the Gonzalez family's decision to sell is a financial one.
"The costs to remodel it have been over 1.5 million (dollars), close to a 1.8 million (dollars). You could build three new buildings for that kind of money," Kaufman said.
Kaufman said in addition to a long list of needed renovations, the restaurant's revenues had been in decline for 15 years.
"Finally, he just couldn't live with it. He's got two big loans," Kaufman said about the owner.