GARLAND — A century-old building, the elephant in the room in the decades-long discussion to renovate Garland's historic downtown square, is now an endangered species.

Demolition of the building, known as the Crossman Block, was formally suggested this month and now appears to be a main consideration. If the 100-year-old building is removed, city officials would be able to double the size of Garland's small, park-style space in the middle of town.

But the building isn't likely to go down without a fight from those who believe it speaks to the city's history.

"It needs to remain a key element in the four sides of that square, aesthetically, culturally and historically," said Norman Alston, a Garland native and architect who specializes in historic renovation. "It would be more cost-efficient and more authentic for Garland to take what we have and run with it."

Garland resident Lynn Thurman viewed conceptual drawings of two designs for the downtown Garland square on Thursday. In yellow is the building at 108 S. Sixth St. At the public input meeting, residents were asked which design option they liked best and whether to remove or retain the building. ((Rex C. Curry / Special Contributor))

The building was identified as one of 45 structures contributing to historic significance in the city's recent application to have its downtown listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

That designation does not restrict what the city can do with the building, however, and Assistant City Manager Rick Vasquez told the council Feb. 6 that "demolition is an option. Restoration is an option. And remodeling of the existing structure is an option, as well."

Funds to renovate the square were approved in a 2004 bond election. Some of the earliest designs of the redo suggested removal of the building. So in 2010, a group called "Save Our Square" went to City Hall to fight for its preservation.

The push-back took the building out of the conversation. Subsequent designs and discussions, including a public hearing last fall, did not include the half-block where the building stands.

"Is the cart before the horse, designing the square before we know what's to become of the adjacent property?" council member David Gibbons asked at the Feb. 6 meeting.

The council agreed. Both halves of the city's property needed to be in the discussion.

So, at the council's request, city officials asked the question straight up Thursday to residents gathered to look at new designs — remove or retain the existing building? Results will be discussed by the council March 21.

A new generation

The city has spent millions over the last decade to renovate its downtown. A new generation has arrived there — many of them supporting a park atmosphere for the square.

"I would like to see the building come down," said Cary Hodson, who as founder of Intrinsic Smokehouse and Brewery has both one of the hot spots of the revitalized downtown and a front window view of the Crossman Block. "If it looked historic or felt historic in any way, that might be different."

Hodson has lived in Garland all his 31 years. That makes him too young to remember the Crossman Insurance company or any business storefront on the site. The building did continue to have private use as home to the Garland Civic Theatre until the city bought it in 2013. Now, it sits vacant, boards on its windows.

The Feb. 6 council work session and the public meeting Thursday night highlighted two design options for green space and other amenities on the square.

"In both concepts, we will be able to stretch the design to cover the area should that building be moved for any reason," Vasquez said of the design options.

Windows are boarded up on the west side of the downtown Garland square, the former home of the Crossman Insurance company and Garland Civic Theatre. ((Rex C. Curry / Special Contributor))

Showing its age

A structural report said Crossman Block has issues with its roof and parts of the foundation. Its condition was described Thursday as "fair to poor."

City Manager Bryan Bradford told the council that options could include moving the existing building toward Fifth Street, thereby preserving it and also adding the green space on the square itself.

Alston, who examined the building with the city's permission three to four months ago, said moving it would not be practical.

"Physically, could you? Yes, but it's an enormous effort," he said. "There'd be no real point; you'd essentially have to rebuild it by the time you pick it up."

Alston said he is considering submitting an alternative plan to the city.

"When I heard thoughts of carving that building up or tearing it down, I got very concerned," he said. "It could be retrofitted more cost-effectively than anything you could do there."

Fixing the building wouldn't necessarily cure its problems, Hodson said. It has no street front and, for decades, no tenants. His own business would become more visible without the building, he said, and all of downtown's commercial partners would benefit from the increased green space.

"The people who built that building did it for the traffic and commerce," he said. "They didn't build it to be there forever."