OBSERVER file photo
The rear part of the motel that is to be demolished is dilapidated and has been abandoned for many years.
A couple of Dunkirk Common Councilors showed some frustration this week that the dilapidated former motel near Point Gratiot Park is still standing.
James Stoyle and Nancy Nichols contributed to a unanimous council vote ordering the demolition of the Point Drive West structure. Stoyle asked city officials Tuesday why the building still exists. The short answer: It’s tied up in a court appeal by the property owners.
“Wasn’t that an order? Don’t they have to tear that down? The hotel from hell,” Stoyle said.
Allan Zurawski, a city code enforcement officer, replied, “There’s still legal proceedings regarding that, that Glenn (Christner, the city’s chief code officer) is handling right now. It was adjourned at the previous appearance, I think they’re scheduled to be on in the next couple weeks.”
“It’s a question you and Glenn have to get used to, because it’s coming every meeting,” Stoyle said. “I find if we don’t keep on it, it kind of drifts away from you folks.”
“They were given an order to tear it down. In my estimation, they should be charged a fine day by day for them not taking it down,” Nichols later commented.
“That’s something I’m sure would be on the table in the future,” Zurawski replied.
“The city attorney (Elliott Raimondo) knows some of the legal issues more than I do.”
Raimondo said, “They are appealing the demolition of the hotel — specifically, the city council did have an order for it to be demolished. We don’t have the money to demolish it ourselves at the moment, which is part of the issue. So, it’s getting them to pay for the demolition, or a court order to do that.”
“This is on us?” Stoyle wondered.
“Well, no, it should be on them,” Raimondo said. “However, since they’re refusing to do it and they’ve appealed the demolition order to the courts, then we have to either demolish it ourselves or continue to work through the court process.”
Raimondo added that money for a demolition is in Mayor Kate Wdowiasz’s proposed 2025 budget.