City Threatens Demolition Of Economy Inn If Action Isn’t Taken
January 6, 2021 at 12:29 a.m.
City Threatens Demolition Of Economy Inn If Action Isn’t Taken
By Amanda Bridgman-
The hotel, 3521 Lake City Highway, Warsaw, has been on the docket of the Warsaw code enforcement officer for more than a year.
The motel was severely damaged after a storm in May 2019, causing roofing problems, and extensive damage inside. However, it isn’t the first time the hotel has been under scrutiny for violations and in 2012 police busted two meth labs taking place there. It has been closed since the 2019 storm.
Hari Om and Jay Patel are responsible for the hotel, according to records.
On Tuesday, City Building Commissioner Ray Behling laid down the law to Patel and said he’s got 60 days to secure the funding for the entire project, otherwise the city will move forward with demolition.
“We need to see that secured within 60 days to do the whole building,” Behling said. “We want to go 60 days from today to fulfill full funding or we are going to see a demolition order on the property. We also asked that the building be boarded up and secured. There are several doors open, windows broken out and I asked that they’re boarded up with plywood not plastic taped on there ... The building is not secure and it needs to stay secure so somebody doesn’t wander in there and get hurt.”
Behling also reminded Patel that work cannot begin until plans are submitted and permits are issued.
“It’s going to be very difficult to come up with the funding for the complete building,” Patel said, citing that most of 2020 was spent settling an insurance claim and failed bank loans.
“We’ve been talking about funding all 2020 and here we are, 2021. We still aren’t there, but that’s what we need to see, this get done,” Behling said. “We’re talking another year and a half, another two years, and the city has taken the stand (now) let’s get the whole thing done, let’s get the funding, let’s get it done.”
Code Enforcement Officer Dana Hewitt also wasn’t having it.
“During this whole discussion it sounds like you’ve only had a Plan A with the insurance. It’s unfortunate that there was no real Plan B when we asked about one in November, and December was getting some funding through other properties and that did not work either,” Hewitt said. “I think, as we’re going through 2020, if this didn’t work, nothing was in place to go, nothing was presented to us. If the insurance failed to go through ... that there’s still a sticking point, so we had to have known somewhere in 2020 that we have to have a pretty solid Plan B moving forward, and here we are, start of 2021. ... We’re saying, there’s been no concrete information on plans to obtain other than hopes and dreams of getting this funding, so that’s why we’re saying two months – 60 days – and we’re sticking to that.”
Patel said he understood and will try to get the money pulled together. He was ordered to appear at the next code enforcement hearing at 10 a.m. Feb. 23 at City Hall.
Also Tuesday, Alan Kado provided an update on his property at 704 E. Center St. that was threatened to be torn down two months ago by the city if he didn’t work on getting it up to snuff.
Kado said Tuesday he has lined up roofing contractors, and will be having a contractor come out this week to look at a problematic chimney and installation of a second HVAC system.
Behling made plans to do another inspection with Hewitt and the fire marshal at the property and said he knows there’s still some siding, window and interior issues that need to be completed.
Kado also was ordered to appear at the February meeting.
The hotel, 3521 Lake City Highway, Warsaw, has been on the docket of the Warsaw code enforcement officer for more than a year.
The motel was severely damaged after a storm in May 2019, causing roofing problems, and extensive damage inside. However, it isn’t the first time the hotel has been under scrutiny for violations and in 2012 police busted two meth labs taking place there. It has been closed since the 2019 storm.
Hari Om and Jay Patel are responsible for the hotel, according to records.
On Tuesday, City Building Commissioner Ray Behling laid down the law to Patel and said he’s got 60 days to secure the funding for the entire project, otherwise the city will move forward with demolition.
“We need to see that secured within 60 days to do the whole building,” Behling said. “We want to go 60 days from today to fulfill full funding or we are going to see a demolition order on the property. We also asked that the building be boarded up and secured. There are several doors open, windows broken out and I asked that they’re boarded up with plywood not plastic taped on there ... The building is not secure and it needs to stay secure so somebody doesn’t wander in there and get hurt.”
Behling also reminded Patel that work cannot begin until plans are submitted and permits are issued.
“It’s going to be very difficult to come up with the funding for the complete building,” Patel said, citing that most of 2020 was spent settling an insurance claim and failed bank loans.
“We’ve been talking about funding all 2020 and here we are, 2021. We still aren’t there, but that’s what we need to see, this get done,” Behling said. “We’re talking another year and a half, another two years, and the city has taken the stand (now) let’s get the whole thing done, let’s get the funding, let’s get it done.”
Code Enforcement Officer Dana Hewitt also wasn’t having it.
“During this whole discussion it sounds like you’ve only had a Plan A with the insurance. It’s unfortunate that there was no real Plan B when we asked about one in November, and December was getting some funding through other properties and that did not work either,” Hewitt said. “I think, as we’re going through 2020, if this didn’t work, nothing was in place to go, nothing was presented to us. If the insurance failed to go through ... that there’s still a sticking point, so we had to have known somewhere in 2020 that we have to have a pretty solid Plan B moving forward, and here we are, start of 2021. ... We’re saying, there’s been no concrete information on plans to obtain other than hopes and dreams of getting this funding, so that’s why we’re saying two months – 60 days – and we’re sticking to that.”
Patel said he understood and will try to get the money pulled together. He was ordered to appear at the next code enforcement hearing at 10 a.m. Feb. 23 at City Hall.
Also Tuesday, Alan Kado provided an update on his property at 704 E. Center St. that was threatened to be torn down two months ago by the city if he didn’t work on getting it up to snuff.
Kado said Tuesday he has lined up roofing contractors, and will be having a contractor come out this week to look at a problematic chimney and installation of a second HVAC system.
Behling made plans to do another inspection with Hewitt and the fire marshal at the property and said he knows there’s still some siding, window and interior issues that need to be completed.
Kado also was ordered to appear at the February meeting.
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