FORT WORTH, Texas — A restoration firm has filed the first permit to begin demolition to shore up what remains of the Sandman Hotel in downtown Fort Worth following an explosion nearly a month ago, documents show.
"Our team is now focused on ensuring the structural integrity of the building so that the next phase of work can proceed," Northland Properties said in a statement. "We will continue to provide updates as they are available."
It comes as Atmos Energy and the hotel owner have reached an agreement on how to oversee cleanup of the site, court documents show.
The Forth Worth fire chief said his department officially turned over control of the property to the hotel owner earlier this week. Cleanup will help his investigators determine what caused the blast.
"Everything has been investigated and looked at up to the structure," Chief James Davis said. "Everybody would like to see once the debris field gets removed, what’s underneath that debris field."
Davis said his investigators still have not determined what caused the blast -- although they're still confident a crime is not involved.
"I have confidence that we’ll get to a reasonable answer," he said. "But I don’t want to get out in front of myself and tell you that it’s not within reason that we may never know."
Atmos Energy has insisted that its investigation determined a gas leak occurred on the hotel property -- not the hotel's responsibility -- and asked a judge to absolve it of legal responsibility in nearly half a dozen pending lawsuits.
"I think it’s an expedient way for Atmos to try to get off the hook, of course," said Ryan Zehl, who represents 20 workers and guests who are suing Atmos Energy and the hotel owner.
"They are trying to prematurely eliminate their liability knowing that once we start looking at the evidence, you know, it may point toward them," he said.
Zehl said it is unlikely for a judge to grant the order Atmos Energy requested. However, the attempt speaks to a likely lengthy legal battle still to come.
Progress has been slow on 8th Street outside the hotel, but workers cleared off the sidewalk Friday to allow customers to access the shops across the street.
"I think it’s going in the right direction. I hope it continues," said Lisa Jackson, who owns La Creamian ice cream parlor. "There’s that’s still left to do, but today at this very moment, I’m glad to see the progress that has been made."