The Houghton-Donner Mansion burned down July 19th. You
can see more on the NBC11 Website.
PAC*SJ had repeatedly made the City aware,
as had others, that it was being broken into and used by vagrants, and we
specifically talked about why it was so dangerous for the building -- especially
the risk of fire. Many years of effort have gone up in smoke in what very likely
could have been prevented if the building had been treated with the respect it
deserved.
If the
City instituted a "demolition by neglect" ordinance perhaps this would not have
happened. Vacant historic resources must be protected in order for them to
have a future.
