Sec. 7. NOTICE OF DEMOLITION.  No person shall demolish any exterior architectural feature now or hereafter in the Old Galveston Quarter until he shall have filed with the secretary of the Commission on such form as may be from time to time prescribed by the Commission a written notice of his intent to demolish such feature and a period of thirty (30) days, Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays excluded, or such lesser period as the Commission, because the feature is not historically or architecturally significant or otherwise worthy of preservation, may in a particular case determine, shall have expired following the filing of such notice of demolition.  Upon the expiration of such period the secretary of the Commission shall forthwith issue to the person filing the notice of demolition a certificate of the expiration of such period.
Sec. 8. EXCLUSIONS.  Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent the ordinary maintenance or repair of any exterior architectural feature now or hereafter in the Old Galveston Quarter;  nor shall anything in this Act be construed to prevent the construction, reconstruction, alteration or demolition of any such feature which the Commission shall certify is required by the public safety because of an unsafe or dangerous condition;  nor shall anything in this Act be construed to prevent the construction, reconstruction, alteration or demolition of any such feature under a permit issued by the City of Galveston prior to the effective date of this Act.
Sec. 9. APPEALS.  Any applicant aggrieved by a determination of the Commission may, within thirty (30) days after the making of such determination, appeal to the District Court of Galveston County.  The Court shall hear all pertinent evidence and shall annul the determination of the Commission if it finds the reasons given by the Commission to be unwarranted by the evidence or to be insufficient in law to warrant the determination of the Commission or make such other decree as justice and equity may require.  The remedies provided by this Section shall be exclusive;  but the parties shall have all rights of appeal and exception as in other equity cases.
Sec. 10. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.  The Commission may regulate the types and location of business as well as business hours within the Quarter where such regulation does not conflict with any state law or city ordinance and may sell or lease, for periods not to exceed twenty (20) years, real or personal property for use within the Quarter which it may acquire by purchase or gift;  provided that the Commission shall have no power of eminent domain.
Sec. 11. BONDS.  The Commission shall have no authority to issue bonds.
Sec. 12. ACTION FOR DECLARATORY JUDGMENT.  The Commission may bring an action for a declaratory judgment in any District Court in Galveston or Travis Counties, Texas, in order to finally determine any question concerning this Statute.
Sec. 13. ELECTION;  PETITION;  RETURNS.    (a)  The powers granted to the Old Galveston Quarter Commission under this Act shall not take effect until an election has been held within the boundaries of the proposed District, and its creation has been approved by the majority of those voting in an election.
(b) A petition shall first be presented to the Commissioners Court signed by a majority of the resident property owners within the Quarter.
(c) The Commissioners Court shall then order an election to be held within the boundaries of the Old Galveston Quarter at which election shall be submitted the following propositions and none other:
"FOR the Old Galveston Quarter."
"AGAINST the Old Galveston Quarter."
(d) A majority of those voting in the Special Election shall be necessary to carry the proposition.  Only resident property owners may vote at such an election.  All such elections shall be conducted in the manner provided by the General Election Laws, unless otherwise provided.  The Commissioners Court shall name polling places within the Quarter and shall appoint the judges and other necessary election officers.
(e) Immediately after the election each presiding judge shall make returns of the result as provided for in General Elections for state and county officers, and return the ballot boxes to the County Clerk, who shall keep same in a safe place and deliver them together with all returns to the Commissioners Court at its next regular or special session to canvass the vote.  If the court finds that the proposition carried, it shall so declare the result and enter the same in its minutes.