Slidell may buy motel

The Slidell administration will introduce an ordinance at Tuesday’s City Council meeting that would give Mayor Ben Morris permission to execute the purchase of the Long Stay Motel in Olde Towne.

The motel, located on Second Street across from the City Hall and the Municipal Auditorium, has long been a thorn in the side of city officials. Residents and businesses in Olde Towne have expressed displeasure with the motel. Last summer during a meeting with Olde Towne residents to discuss Slidell’s Master Plan, most told city planners the hotel was an eyesore, and they were concerned the business attracts a criminal element.

“It’s been a problem for a long time,” said Slidell administration Chief of Staff Bob Dunbar. “It’s really a blight, and police are called there all the time.”

Dunbar said the owner never had an incentive to sell the property because it made a lot of money. However, the owner died recently, and Dunbar said the man’s wife is considering selling the hotel to the city.

“She has already done an appraisal on it,” Dunbar said.

The ordinance does not go into detail on what will be done, but it does say that once the motel has been purchased, the city will use it as “a part of the rebuilding effort.” Currently, the city is waiting for construction to begin on a new municipal building, which will be on the north side of the Slidell City Hall. The city is waiting for permission to demolish the damaged University of New Orleans Slidell Campus building to make room for the new municipal building.

The motel is located to the south of the City Hall and may be the location of other city offices planned by the city following the destruction of most government’s offices by Hurricane Katrina. Currently, the city government works out of a series of trailers on Bayou Lane. However, Dunbar said he does not know what the city would do with the property if it does purchase the Long Stay Motel. He said it would be a good thing to finally close the motel.

“Personally, it will be a good thing in the revitalization of Olde Towne,” Dunbar said.

The proposed ordinance will be introduced Tuesday night, and there will be a public hearing at the council’s Jan. 27, 2009, meeting.