A Look Inside The Kress

Billy Abraham is angry at the idea that his building could possibly be taken away.

“I (expletive) built this town,” Abraham said. “I’ll be (expletive) damned if I’m going to let some (expletive) Johnny-come-lately come in here and (expletive) us.”

City officials say that if a deal is struck between a AAA baseball team and the city, they would most likely vacate their office building downtown, then use the property to erect a baseball park. That would force the city into a position where it would have to find a new home.

One of the possible locations, according to some city officials, is the historic downtown Kress Building. The five-and-dime was erected during the Great Depression and is considered by many to be one of El Paso’s architectural masterpieces.

Billy Abraham owns the Kress building in addition to 19 other historic buildings in downtown El Paso. City officials criticize Abraham, claiming that he has allowed for the buildings to fall into disrepair. One of those buildings is the Kress.

“My code enforcement people do walk-throughs a lot,” City Manager Joyce Wilson said. “I can guarantee you none of his properties are fine.”

In October, city officials announced they were pursuing receivership on the Kress. That effort was haulted due to a court case in Dallas, they said. Now that option is back on the table. They say if serious code violations on the building persist, it could be condemned.

ABC-7’s research showed violations at six of Abraham’s properties are currently pending in municipal and district courts. Five of those violations involve failing to register some of his buildings as vacant. El Paso Code Enforcement would not comment on what the sixth violation is due to a gag order.

In the past, the city condemned one of Abraham’s properties on Oregon Street and took away his historic Fall Mansion through eminent domain.

Abraham says the problem has to do with the economy of the city. He says he would love to have tenants in his properties, but they are not there. For this reason, he says, the repairs and costly restorations have not occurred.

“Here is my message to Joyce,” Abraham said. “I have received no offers for financing from the city. No, my properties are not for sale, and I again extend my arms to you to embrace me. I’m here to push this city forward.”

Abraham is current on the property taxes for all of the buildings he owns, our research has shown. He claims he pays more than $350,000 in taxes on his properties a year.

“I do this for El Paso, not for me,” Abraham said. “I’ll be gone, and all this, this will still be here.”