Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
More than a year after Beaumont police searched the old First Baptist Church building for copper thieves, the owner says break-ins and damage at the vacant property remain a constant problem as he works to keep the site secured and up to code.
Gerald Hatch, the current owner of the former church building, said people continue getting into the property even after repeated efforts to close it off.
“The homeless people still continue to do what they've done. Continue to do what I need to do to meet up with the requirement of the city,” Hatch said.
Hatch said he was at the property on Monday cleaning up and nailing the building shut, but said it was broken into again overnight.
“They done broke in again overnight, but that's what we have to continue to do until we, meet our obligations,” Hatch said.
Those obligations include bringing the building into compliance with Beaumont building code standards. Hatch said the break-ins and damage have become an everyday issue, but he said his relationship with the city has improved.
“We have built a better relationship of working with me to try to help me to resolve problems that I have had at this church,” Hatch said.
Hatch bought the property about six years ago with plans to use it to help the homeless through his nonprofit. He said he is now looking ahead to a proposed residential redevelopment he believes could revitalize the area.
“Well this is going to be a great uplift for Beaumont. The plan that we have on the table to do, you got a lot of revenues, a lot of jobs,” Hatch said.
Despite the ongoing problems at the vacant building, Hatch said he is not giving up.
“My heart's still big. They may knock me down a little bit, but I’m going to stand right back up. You know? I mean, it's hard to keep me down,” he said.
Beaumont City Council chose not to deny a proposal for a potential redevelopment that would replace the old church site with more than 200 new apartments. Developers are working on receiving funding from the state to continue the approval process.
_______________
Follow KFDM on social media:
KFDM on Facebook: facebook.com/KFDMNews
KFDM on Twitter: twitter.com/kfdmnews
Subscribe to KFDM on YouTube: youtube.com/@newsonkfdm/featured
For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit kfdm.com
Watch our live newscasts and other live video at kfdm.com/watch
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@kfdm.com
Call the Newsroom: 409.892.6622
KFDM is a TX based station and CBS Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. KBTV is a TX based station and Fox Television affiliate owned and operated by Deerfield Media, Inc and receives certain services from an affiliation of Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. Sinclair owns and operates, programs or provides sales services to 163 television stations in 77 markets, after pending transactions. Sinclair's television group reaches approximately 38.7% of US television households and includes FOX, ABC, MyTV, CW, CBS, NBC, Univision and Azteca affiliates.
#kfdm #kfdmnews #beaumont #beaumontnews #KFDM #KFDMNews #localnews #breakingnews
More than a year after Beaumont police searched the old First Baptist Church building for copper thieves, the owner says break-ins and damage at the vacant property remain a constant problem as he works to keep the site secured and up to code.
Gerald Hatch, the current owner of the former church building, said people continue getting into the property even after repeated efforts to close it off.
“The homeless people still continue to do what they've done. Continue to do what I need to do to meet up with the requirement of the city,” Hatch said.
Hatch said he was at the property on Monday cleaning up and nailing the building shut, but said it was broken into again overnight.
“They done broke in again overnight, but that's what we have to continue to do until we, meet our obligations,” Hatch said.
Those obligations include bringing the building into compliance with Beaumont building code standards. Hatch said the break-ins and damage have become an everyday issue, but he said his relationship with the city has improved.
“We have built a better relationship of working with me to try to help me to resolve problems that I have had at this church,” Hatch said.
Hatch bought the property about six years ago with plans to use it to help the homeless through his nonprofit. He said he is now looking ahead to a proposed residential redevelopment he believes could revitalize the area.
“Well this is going to be a great uplift for Beaumont. The plan that we have on the table to do, you got a lot of revenues, a lot of jobs,” Hatch said.
Despite the ongoing problems at the vacant building, Hatch said he is not giving up.
“My heart's still big. They may knock me down a little bit, but I’m going to stand right back up. You know? I mean, it's hard to keep me down,” he said.
Beaumont City Council chose not to deny a proposal for a potential redevelopment that would replace the old church site with more than 200 new apartments. Developers are working on receiving funding from the state to continue the approval process.
_______________
Follow KFDM on social media:
KFDM on Facebook: facebook.com/KFDMNews
KFDM on Twitter: twitter.com/kfdmnews
Subscribe to KFDM on YouTube: youtube.com/@newsonkfdm/featured
For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit kfdm.com
Watch our live newscasts and other live video at kfdm.com/watch
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@kfdm.com
Call the Newsroom: 409.892.6622
KFDM is a TX based station and CBS Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. KBTV is a TX based station and Fox Television affiliate owned and operated by Deerfield Media, Inc and receives certain services from an affiliation of Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. Sinclair owns and operates, programs or provides sales services to 163 television stations in 77 markets, after pending transactions. Sinclair's television group reaches approximately 38.7% of US television households and includes FOX, ABC, MyTV, CW, CBS, NBC, Univision and Azteca affiliates.
#kfdm #kfdmnews #beaumont #beaumontnews #KFDM #KFDMNews #localnews #breakingnews
