Historic Texas Landmark Faces Demolition

A historic South Austin structure, the Governor Horton Place, is scheduled for demolition by the end of the year. This 19th-century landmark, once home to Texas's first lieutenant governor, has suffered decades of neglect, fire damage, and structural instability. City officials and preservation staff confirm the building is beyond repair and poses a significant public safety risk.

History of Governor Horton Place

The Governor Horton Place, situated at 6705 Bluff Springs Road, holds significant historical value. Constructed in the 1840s, it served as the home of Albert C. Horton. Horton was a veteran of the Texas Revolution. He also became the first person elected lieutenant governor after Texas joined the United States.

In 1846, Horton briefly acted as governor. This occurred while Governor J. Pinkney Henderson was serving during the Mexican-American War. The property later belonged to Judge Thomas H. Duval. It underwent restoration in the 1960s and received a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark designation in 1972.

Decades of Decline and Damage

The landmark’s fate began to change dramatically after a fire in 1996. This event left the structure exposed to weather elements. For nearly three decades, the building remained largely untouched and unprotected. This lack of maintenance led to severe deterioration.

Recent assessments by City of Austin engineers and Texas Historical Commission staff confirmed the extent of the damage. They found the remaining walls to be unstable. Between 2022 and 2025, two additional structural collapses occurred. A city engineer described the site as a "dangerous environment and life safety concern." This assessment highlighted collapsed walls, hazardous conditions, and the presence of drug paraphernalia.

"There was a very highly publicized encampment here the spring that the city expended thousands of dollars to clean up," Kim McNight, manager of the Historic Preservation Division, told the Austin Monitor. "Obviously, it's been on our radar for 30 years... but we have people actively camping between walls that are not stable, and it's very, very serious."

Public Safety Concerns

In recent years, the property also became associated with a large encampment. The City of Austin reported that individuals were living in and around the building. In March, the city cleared the encampment. This operation involved relocating approximately 25 individuals and several animals to shelters. The area was then fenced off to prevent further access.

Ownership and Final Decision

The property is currently under the ownership of David Hernassi. He inherited it through a Delaware-based LLC following the 2017 murder of his father, Maji Hemassi. The elder Hermassi had purchased the property at auction in the early 1990s, just a few years before the damaging 1996 fire.

In July 2025, Bradford Patterson, deputy director for preservation programs at the Texas Historical Commission, sent a letter to the City of Austin. He stated that the structure had deteriorated beyond any possibility of repair. Patterson noted, "The building succumbed to fire in 1996 and was left in a state of disrepair for many years." He added, "Based upon the deteriorated condition shared by the City of Austin in information submitted and noted during the site visit by Texas Historical Commission staff, we understand the demolition and clearing of The Governor Horton Place."

Demolition Timeline and Mitigation

Demolition cannot begin before September 3. It must be completed by December 2, according to Patterson's letter. To acknowledge the building's historical importance, the city plans to install interpretive signage on-site. This signage will detail the building's history and its past appearance.

Thaddeus Imerman, a spokesperson for the Texas Historical Commission, confirmed the agency's support for the city's efforts to preserve the site's memory. He stated that "beyond RTHL designation, the THC has no involvement in the property." The official historical marker at the site will be removed and returned to the state. Imerman mentioned that outdated or removed markers are often placed in county historical museums.

Precedent and Future Plans

While the demolition of a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark is not common, it has happened before. Imerman cited a similar situation: "In August we issued a letter regarding demolition of the former Fred Douglas Elementary School in Greenville." This shows that such demolitions, though rare, are not without precedent when structures are deemed irreparable.

• Demolition Start: Not before September 3
• Demolition End: By December 2
• Mitigation: On-site interpretive signage
• Historical Marker: To be removed and returned to the state

Archaeological Survey and Material Recycling

Patterson also recommended a full archaeological survey. This survey aims to document any remaining features on the property. These could include cisterns, wells, outbuildings, or cellars. Such a survey helps to gather as much historical information as possible before the site is cleared.

City staff informed the Austin Monitor about plans to recycle the site's original limestone. This limestone was quarried in the 19th century by enslaved laborers. It came from the former Sneed Plantation, another abandoned landmark located north of William Cannon. This recycling effort aims to preserve a piece of the material history, even as the structure itself is removed.