Judge rules Billy Abraham must pay $1.2m in fines for downtown building

As a result of the condition of the American Furniture Building, Judge Linda Chew of the 327th District Court ordered Caples Land Company, LLC and William D. Abraham to pay a fine totaling $1,242,486.15.

In 2016, the city voted to fine Abraham more than $2 million after the El Paso Building and Standards Commission issued an order describing issues with the American Furniture Building.

Abraham sued the city in protest. Inspectors described the building as “deplorable,” according to ABC-7 archives.

The building is located on 105 N. Oregon Street near the Paso Del Norte and Plaza hotels, both of which are historic redevelopment projects.

“The City has been working hard to revitalize Downtown and we are making tremendous strides. However, we still have some amazing structures that have not received any attention for years.” according to Mayor Dee Margo.

“The property owner has not complied with building codes or orders issued by the Building and Standards Commission, I appreciate the court issuing this order to bring it up to code.”

Abraham also owns other iconic downtown properties such as the Kress, Caples, and Toltec Buildings, and the Chinese Laundry, among others.