Friday, October 16, 1998

Relief in sight for downtown's worst problem

Downtown Abilene's biggest problem will soon be getting a major makeover.

The announcement this week that the Abilene Towers Apartments at North Third and Cypress has finally been pried loose from its longtime California owner and sold to a local developer brought cheers of glee from everyone who has been involved in Abilene's downtown revitalization program for the last eight years.

As the attractiveness of downtown Abilene has been gradually enhanced this decade, the shabby appearance of the Towers, built in 1929 as the Wooten Hotel, has stuck out more and more as a blight on the landscape. Owner Paul Oman, who bought the rental property in 1973, not only refused to sell, but also balked at bringing the building up to the standards of neighboring structures that were being restored to their former glory. Oman even rejected an offer five years ago to provide funding so he could renovate the building himself. And forcing the Towers into compliance with city safety codes was like pulling teeth.

It looked as though we would have to put up with a dilapidated building in the middle of downtown forever.

Fortunately, some people didn't give up. A group identified as Abilene Wooten Inc. is now the new owner, and plans include a commercial ground floor, hotel rooms on lower floors and condominiums for upper floors. The exterior is to be restored with its historical characteristics intact. The new owners hope the renovated building can be in service within 18-24 months.

The sale of the Towers adds the largest missing piece to downtown development. Additional hotel rooms will help draw convention business to the Abilene Civic Center. And bringing permanent residences to the downtown sector is a key element in an overall program of downtown development. But for many of us, it will be joy enough just to see an unblemished building that is part of our historical heritage rising up to the West Texas sky.