Save fire-damaged building and its history

It is extremely unfortunate that the Lawrence Hotel building in San Jose caught fire and sustained moderate damage, and the typical knee-jerk reaction is that it’s completely unsafe, dangerous, a teardown (“City history went up in flames with Lawrence building,” Page B1, Jan. 10).

Having been involved in similar projects over time such as the Rispin Mansion and Jose Theatre I have been fortunate to gain unique knowledge and perspective and can assure you that there isn’t a good reason to tear the building down. An indepth investigation by consultants that have experience saving damaged historic buildings and who make judgments by strength of knowledge, not of fear, should be engaged.

I urge our leaders to take a pragmatic look at saving the Lawrence, an important piece of our history and fabric.

— James A. Salata, Garden City

Construction, San Jose