Recent grappling between the city of Beaumont and local developer Tom Flanagan concerning his dilapidated properties has left questions as to whether the downtown property owner receives preferential treatment. Flanagan, who owns multiple buildings in the city, has been granted repeated extensions on required repairs and compliance measures, fueling debate about his influence and accountability, and whether he is considered “too big to fail.”
One of the most high-profile cases involves the historic Gilbert Building, which Flanagan has owned since 2013. In June 2024, the building was severely damaged by a fire that led to investigations by local and federal authorities. By October, Flanagan was named as a suspect in a search warrant affidavit that suggested he may have conspired to set the fire for financial relief. Despite these allegations, he has not been formally charged.
Following the fire, the Beaumont City Council has deliberated on the building’s fate – many times. Rather than ordering immediate demolition, the council granted Flanagan several extensions to either demolish or restore the structure.
Jan. 7, despite previous deadlines not being met, the council voted 5-2 to grant another extension until April 23. Councilmembers Taylor Neild and Randy Feldschau opposed the decision, with Neild calling Flanagan’s timeline “not realistic.”
City officials report that Flanagan has made progress, having pulled a demolition permit for the building’s interior. However, as of the latest deadline of Feb. 28, Deputy Building Official Beau Hansen confirmed, the city had not yet received an engineer’s report from Flanagan, a key requirement set by the council. Additionally, a scheduled update from Flanagan originally set for March 11 has been postponed to March 18, where the property owner is expected to present plans for compliance with the property maintenance code.
Beyond the Gilbert Building, scrutiny has extended to Flanagan’s broader portfolio. His Century Tower property was recently cited by the city’s code compliance office for multiple violations, including water leaks, inadequate fire protection, non-functional restrooms and electrical system inadequacies. Three of the four elevators are operational, according to Hansen, but city officials remain concerned about overall maintenance issues. The building’s poor conditions were highlighted when Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ross had to be rescued from a malfunctioning elevator by the fire department March 3.
Last year, the city tagged 27 buildings and, of those, nine belonged to Flanagan, with the most recent violations at the Century Tower bringing his total to 10.
The aggrieving properties include:
- 328 Bowie (Gilbert Building)
- 340 Bowie (McFaddin Building)
- 495 Orleans (First National Bank Building)
- 304 Pearl
- 398 Pearl (Goodhue Building)
- 515 Fannin (Home to Downtown Fitness)
- 550 Fannin (Century Tower)
- 595 Orleans (San Jacinto Life Building)
- 490 Park (Stedman Building)
- 450 Orleans
The city has faced criticism for what some see as leniency towards Flanagan. While critics argue that allowing multiple extensions creates a precedent of special treatment, others, including some council members, emphasize the importance of historical preservation and economic development. The debate reflects broader concerns about governance, equity and the power dynamics at play in Beaumont’s development landscape.
A special city council meeting has been scheduled for March 18 at 1:30 p.m., where discussions on Flanagan’s properties, particularly the Gilbert Building, are expected to continue.
“As a result of the fire damage, the exterior walls, roof and elevated floors need to be restored to their original structural capacity. April 23 is the deadline set by council for those specific repairs,” said Hansen.