The city of Orange has agreed to temporarily stop the purchase of the First Financial Bank building on 16th Street and the plan to move city hall from downtown.
Lawyer Leslie Barras, who lives in the Old Orange Historic District near downtown, filed for a temporary injunction earlier this week to halt the city’s plans. Late Friday afternoon, she announced the city had agreed to stop for a time. A hearing before 260th State District Judge Buddie Hahn that was set for Tuesday has been moved to March 2, she said.
Barras is a founding member of Historic Orange Preservation Empowerment (HOPE), a non-profit group. They are the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the city.
In the petition, they contend the city council and the city manager violated the city charter by authorizing the purchase of the 16th Street bank building to move city hall there. The lawsuit contends the city charter requires the city to follow the master plan. The Master Land Use Plan adopted by the city council and planning and zoning commission in 1996 sets the center of city government in the Old Town Center/Waterfront area.
Barras said HOPE has hired lawyer David W. Starnes of Beaumont to represent them. Donations to help with the legal fees are tax-deductible and can be sent to HOPE, P.O. Box 1202, Orange TX, 77631. Donations will be kept confidential on request. More information is available through Barras at 409-768-0747 or lebarras@gmail.com -Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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