City of Wichita Falls inch closer to demolishing old Falls hotel
WICHITA FALLS ( KFDX/KJTL ) — The focus is shifted to the Wichita Falls City Councilors after the Type B Sales Tax Corporation approves funds for the demolition of the old Falls hotel.
"I know it's the number one question you get, '[When is] the hotel coming down?'" Paul Menzies, then-Wichita Falls Assistant City Manager, said to councilors in an August 8 meeting.
The answer is soon.
The Type B Sales Tax Corporation Board of Directors will shell out the funds to demolish the old hotel along Central Freeway. The board unanimously approved up to $381,000 for the demo.
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"I think this project for a lot of folks in the community is a long time coming," Menzies said. "It should be coming to fruition here in the next two months."
The city acquired the property the hotel is on in August when the council approved a settlement agreement with Wichita Falls Hospitality.
By then, they'd spent nearly a year in a lawsuit to take possession by eminent domain.
The city acquired 35 percent of the land for public park space.
"What ends up being is there remains a developable piece of commercial property that remains on the tax rolls and could possibly developed in the future," Menzies told councilors in the same August meeting.
Menzies said it's unclear if the owners have any plans for their part of the property.
The city received 12 bids for the demolition job. The lowest bid came in at $373,840.
"A great example of competitive bidding," Menzies said. "Had a high of about $1.3 million, then you had the low, which came out to about $380,000. But you look at your second, your third bids. [$416,000] I believe, and [$475,000}. We have a lot of confidence this company can get the job done."
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With this step complete the city could soon complete its goal and build a potential recreational park.
Menzies expects councilors to ratify the funding and award the contract to the lowest bidder, Midwest Wrecking of Texas, out of Fort Worth.
Councilors call the meeting to order on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. in the MPEC.
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