The Ocean Springs Board of Aldermen voted 4-3 on Tuesday to allow demolition of Del Castle, a home on Davis Bayou reputed to be the hideout of legendary gangster Al Capone.

However, Mayor Connie Moran said she'll veto the decision.

Caretaker Bruce Legate said the Spanish Colonial mansion has become too expensive for him to maintain. He requested a permit to demolish the home owned by his father, and the board followed the logic of his attorney, who said the Board of Aldermen had no authority to deny the demolition permit.
Moran said the home is unique and should be saved.

"It is a beautiful home," she said. "We don't have many historic structures like that left in Ocean Springs."

Legate and an architect had been in negotiations trying to find a way to save the home, but there had been no talks since early August and he said he was ready to move forward.

In other matters, the board removed a hold it had put on the building permit for Ocean Pointe Condominiums.

The board voted the mayor must make sure the project conforms to all the requirements of condos with R1 A zoning after some debate over whether the zoning actually allows condos.

The board also voted to seek an attorney general's opinion on whether the project could get an extra 10 feet in height based on a city ordinance.

The permit would be approved by the planning department.