City uses novel approach to try and keep El Paso’s Historic Toltec building open

The owner of the Toltec building in downtown El Paso is being given up to 90 days to correct code violations — or the historic building could be condemned. The five-story building, which is more than one hundred years old, is located at 717 east San Antonio street.

The owner, Billy Abraham, is currently in jail serving a two-year prison sentence for failing to help a man he ran over with this truck back in 2010.

A representative for Abraham was at the city’s Building and Standards Board meeting. She told members the building’s owner fully intents to correct the code violations within the given time period.

After inspecting the building in May of this year, field agents found the main structure showed evidence of fire damage in two locations. The elevators were found to be leaking hydraulic fluid and not functioning properly. Illegal and non-compliant electrical work was found throughout the structure and non-compliant plumbing work was found in the basement.

There were also signs of someone living in the basement illegally. There are three tenants in the building. One is a law firm that has been there since 1991.

The Building and Standards Board has decided to allow the tenants to remain as long on the building’s owner makes certain repairs. Some of those include isolating the plumbing system, fire protection and repairing an elevator.

Sonya Cahalan is the code field operations supervisor.

“There has been some illegal work that’s non-compliant with our building codes done on the property that we are asking to be brought up to code or removed. and we are asking to allow the tenants to remain, that they separate them and keep them safe. So even though the rest of the building may not be up to code or not completely safe, the tenants would remain secure and safe,” Cahalan said.

The rest of the building would be secured until further renovations are made.

City Fire Marshall Orlando Arriola addressed the board members at the meeting.
“This is innovative and a little progressive. When you look at a building, the traditional approach is we would be recommending condemnation of the whole building. In this case, what we are trying to do is build trust with the building owner,” Arriola said.

It was also noted that Abraham, as of July 19 owed $42,948 in taxes and there is a pending law suit.