Asbestos remediation at the historic COMO Motel in Richardson is complete, paving the way for demolition.
RICHARDSON, Texas — The city of Richardson says asbestos remediation has been completed at the historic COMO Motel, signaling a dramatic transformation for the once-iconic roadside landmark.
For local resident Reid Robinson, the changes are bittersweet.
“It’s sad if it does go,” Robinson said. “We still think that it might not. But… the realities of what’s happening? The demo permit?”
Demolition plans are now in motion, as Pappas Restaurants has filed and received approval for a permit to tear down the building.
Lindsey Sherritt, a passionate advocate for the preservation of the COMO, worked alongside Reid and others to gather 5,000 signatures in hopes of saving the site in 2023. Despite their efforts, the preservation campaign was unsuccessful.
Their primary concern now is what will replace the motel.
“As long as it doesn’t turn into a… parking lot,” Sherritt and Reid said.
Currently, the site is marked by a decaying building under tarps, an empty marquee, and a missing sign — its whereabouts remain unknown.
“We do not know where [the sign] is. We have inquired. We might lose the building but the sign would be the iconic memento to save,” Sherritt said.
Sherritt herself saved a chair from the motel’s dumpster, a piece she sees as symbolic of what could have been — a fresh start for the site.
“Which of course is symbolically what the COMO could have been,” she said. “Cleaned up and a fresh start.”
The city tells WFAA that asbestos remediation is required before any demolition is done.
A statement from the city reads:
“The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) regulates asbestos abatement in Texas. The Texas Asbestos Health Protection Rules (TAHPR) and the Federal National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) regulate asbestos abatement in Texas. A building owner must notify DSHS before beginning renovation or demolition projects that may disturb asbestos, and a notification fee must be paid by the owner based on the amount of asbestos removed.”
The city tells WFAA that Pappas has six months from the time of permit issuance to complete the demolition. WFAA has reached out to Pappas over a two-week span for clarity on what is planned for the site. Our messages were not returned.
