Documenting history: Production begins on documentary with intent of salvaging San Juan Hotel

SAN JUAN — A preservation organization is hoping that its forthcoming documentary will breathe new life into the old San Juan Hotel.

The documentary, which is part of a new collaboration between the Hidalgo County Historical Commission and the Abandoned Atlas Foundation, is the latest attempt to prevent the historic building’s demolition.

“Essentially, we’re hoping that the video will help attract attention to the building,” Gabriel Ozuna, chairman for the Hidalgo County Historical Society, said. “We’ve had these announcements before to try to raise awareness. This is more to try to attract people who might be interested in investing in the building, possibly making an offer to the city for the building, who have experience in development, real estate and rehabilitation projects.”

The city of San Juan purchased the hotel on Nov. 15, 2023. Since then, there have been numerous plans regarding the building’s future — with at least one proposal to have the hotel demolished as part of the city’s downtown revitalization plan.

No trespassing signs now mark the perimeter of the heavily graffitied building as it falls further into a state of dilapidation.

Despite its current state, there is still hope that the building can be salvaged.

“I looked at a few photos at first, and I thought originally that maybe it was too far gone,” Abandoned Atlas Foundation President Michael Schwarz said after filming the exterior of the old hotel. “When I really started looking at some of the features and some of the structure, these pillars outside, it’s in way better shape than what some of the photos that I originally saw were.”

Schwarz has helped save numerous historic buildings throughout the Midwest and the southern portion of the United States through the production of micro-documentaries.

The short films are uploaded onto the organization’s YouTube page with the anticipation that it will be viewed by someone with an interest in investing.

With the San Juan Hotel documentary, Schwarz said that he planned to interview close to a dozen individuals who volunteered to contribute their own personal stories with the building.

“Our stance at the Abandoned Atlas Foundation is just because a building is abandoned doesn’t mean it’s the end of the story,” Schwarz said. “Oftentimes abandoned buildings like this get overlooked. You see paint peeling, stuff falling off, and boarded up windows, and it’s really hard to look past all that sometimes.”

“It takes somebody with a vision,” he continued. “Developers follow voices who want things done. And if there’s a community that doesn’t show support for a building, developers are not going to touch that.”

Schwarz said that he is fascinated by the hotel’s rich and sometimes complicated history. While most buildings he has worked with are looking for a second chance, he said that this particular case was unique since the building has already been restored more than once.

“What stood out to me is that it was abandoned for a second time, and now it’s kind of in this limbo of like, ‘Do we tear it down? Do we restore it?’” he said. “There are a lot of voices, some from afar, some close up, that are advocating for its restoration. I think that’s what it takes, is our voices. That, to me, is the story that sticks out.”

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