 In 1968, the palace was acquired by the municipal council of Lisbon, in order to demolish and extend the width of "Rua de Santa Apolónia", but it is likely that some problem arose during the transaction.By 1983, the building was still associated with the Van Zeller family descendants.On February 1981 and September, the Ministry of Culture issued a dispatch, classifying the building as a "Property of Public Interest".