By Ken Stickney

ken.stickney@panews.com

The city of Port Arthur and Motiva Enterprise have moved forward with discussions for the sale of Sabine Hotel downtown, a development that could spark a frenzy in commercial development.

“It’s a dream come true for many of us,” said Mayor Derrick Freeman, who made the announcement Thursday on Facebook.

In revealing this development, Freeman said in his Facebook post: I’m pleased to announce the City of Port Arthur is in negotiations with #Motiva to sell the Sabine Hotel. To be renovated and occupied by third quarter 2021. Exciting times in our great city!”

The building has been empty since it was closed in the 1980s and became city property. Four years ago, Freeman, as mayor pro tem, suggested allowing the hotel to be blown up by a movie studio to help clear downtown of abandoned buildings.

That wasn’t the talk Thursday evening. The building would be the third of some historic significance downtown that Motiva would buy, should the deal come to fruition. Earlier this month, the city and Motiva announced that the energy company would buy the Federal Building, built in 1912, and the Adams Building, completed in 1926, and move 500 office workers there.

Both buildings of those buildings are located at the intersection of Austin Avenue and Fifth Street, within eyesight of the abandoned hotel, which is located at 600 Procter St.

Motiva would use the 10-story building, built in 1929, for temporary lodging for company purposes. Plans also call for retail stores — open to the public — on the building’s first floor.

Assistant City Manager Ron Burton said Thursday evening that remediation for asbestos for the building would cost up to $1.5 million; remediating the building for both asbestos and lead paint could cost as much as $2 million.

But Burton said inspection of the building proved it is sound, that the building was “over-engineered” for stability at a time when builders were unsure how much stability the building might need.

Sale price was not immediately available. But the city has offered the building for sale before for $1.