In a lengthy deliberation during Monday's city commission meeting, officials took decisive action regarding the former Ambassador Hotel, property at 1616 W. Crawford Street, which has been deemed a dangerous structure.
The commission resumed a show cause hearing that began on October 14, 2024, where the property owner, Mr. Joshua Joseph of Andre Investments LLC, had previously made representations about securing $3 million in financing for redevelopment plans.
City Manager Mike Schrage reported that Mr. Joseph failed to provide an acceptable loan commitment letter by the October 15 deadline set by the commission. Letters received from Frontier State Bank on October 15 and 17 were determined to be insufficient to meet the commission's requirements.
During the meeting, Mr. Joseph proposed two options: proceeding with his original plan for storage and retail space, or demolishing the building himself by January, requesting the city waive tipping fees estimated at $150,000 to $200,000.
After extensive discussion and multiple executive sessions, the commission voted unanimously to approve Resolution 24-8244. This resolution determines the structure to be unsafe and dangerous, directing it to be razed and removed by the city.
The commission declined to waive tipping fees for potential demolition by the property owner, citing concerns about setting a precedent.
City officials noted that while they are now authorized to proceed with demolition plans, Mr. Joseph retains the right to demolish the building himself, potentially at a lower cost and quicker timeline than the city.
The resolution marks the culmination of a prolonged code enforcement process and multiple missed deadlines by the property owner to address safety concerns at the site.
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