It looks like the Long Stay Motel in Olde Towne Slidell will be staying around for a while.

By a slim 3-4 vote, the Slidell City Council shot down a proposed ordinance Tuesday night that would have given Mayor Ben Morris the authority to spend $1.35 million to purchase the motel that sits across the street from the City Hall.

Judging by the standing room-only crowd in City Council Chambers Tuesday night, the idea of buying the motel had stirred emotions on both sides of the issue. Proponents of the sale, made up of Olde Towne residents, business owners and members of the Olde Towne Task Force, carried small signs that read: “Please Buy Long Stay Motel.” Those opposed to the sale were mostly represented by residents of the south side of Slidell.

The Slidell City Council voted against a proposal giving Slidell Mayor Ben Morris authority to purchase the Long Stay Motel in Olde Towne. (File Photo)

At first it seemed the argument would be between a majority of council members opposed to the sale and Olde Towne business owners who want the motel purchased and demolished. However, the loudest voices against the sale were not councilmen, but residents from Slidell who lived south of Old Spanish Trail and on both sides of Pontchartrain Drive. Both sides spent almost two hours trying to convince the council to vote for or against the sale.

Everyone agreed the Long Stay Motel does not belong in Olde Towne, but Southside residents said the city should spend the money on more important things such as flood protection for their subdivisions that experienced the worst flooding during hurricanes Katrina, Gustav and Ike.

Proponents of the sale cited fear of crime stemming from guests at the motel. City prosecutor Pat Berrigan said 10 percent of the cases he handles in the Slidell City Court come from guests at the motel. He even moved his office that was located behind the motel, because of security concerns.

“It (the motel) does not promote a wholesome atmosphere,” Berrigan said.

But Jennifer Kimbrough, who lives on Bermuda Drive in south Slidell, says she has a bigger fear.

“I get scared every time it rains,” Kimbrough said. “Will it flood again? Remember if we flood, the water will also flood Olde Towne. I love Olde Towne, but I love my house more, and I don’t want to be on the verge of losing everything again.”

Brenda Case, chair of the Economic Development Committee for the Olde Towne Task Force said the Long Stay Motel was a deterrent to business in the area. She said the closing of Memes Beads and Things down the block from the motel was due to the presence of the motel.

“It is good economic development to remove the motel,” Case said, adding that potential investors in Olde Towne are scared off by the Long Stay. “Remember, what happens to Olde Towne affects the rest of the city.”

There was one Olde Towne businessman who thought the buying the motel was a waste of money. Pat Gammon and his wife Jennifer have owned 4G Printing on First Street for 27 years, and he said he has never had any problem with the motel. He suggested the city use the $1.35 million to fix the sidewalks in Olde Towne.

Most of the council agreed that $1.35 million was too high and that the money was needed for other city projects. Councilman Ray Canada said construction of the second municipal building behind City Hall was going to cost $2.7 million. Plus the city was $500,000 short on renovating the Municipal Auditorium. He reminded people that sales tax revenue was down by $3.5 million, which was confirmed by Finance Director Sharon Howes during the discussion of the $6 million supplemental budget.

“If we buy the motel, we won’t have the money for the other projects,” Canada said.

That argument was countered by Councilman Bill Borchert, who said the motel’s selling price would not get lower and now is the best time to buy.

“This is a quality of life issue,” Borchert said, “$1.3 million is a lot, but this project will help Olde Towne and the whole city at the same time.”

The Olde Town Task Force and some residents said the motel should be purchased, torn down and used as a parking lot, because of increased traffic in Olde Towne.

“The real issue is parking,” said Brugier resident Dwayne Lloyd. “It is irresponsible to build two municipal buildings without adequate parking.”

But the mayor said he had not decided on what the city would do with the motel if it were purchased.

“The issue is not a parking lot. The issue is quality of life in this city,” Morris said.

Councilman Joe Fraught offered an olive branch, suggesting the issue be indefinitely postponed until more research was done. However, that motion died 4-3 with Councilmen Lionel Hicks, Landon Cusimano and Canada voting against it. Council President Richard Hursey was absent from the meeting. According to council rules, there had to be a majority of five to approve the motion.

In the end, Canada, Hicks, Cusimano and Fraught voted no, and the ordinance failed to pass.