SALISBURY, Md.- The Thrift Travel Inn in Salisbury was back on the discussion table again Tuesday.
It was one of the topic at the Salisbury City Council's work session where some leaders want to tear it down because they said the long-standing motel is an eyesore. City officials said the building has also experienced its share of crime and illegal activity through the years. The price tag to demolish the motel is about $50,000 that will come out of the city's surplus budget.
Mike Nolan of Quality Cars said he has been staring at the motel for almost 12 years. He said it's an unpleasant sight from where his car business sits on Route 13.
"When the prostitutes were here there were a few of them. That was the worst thing because they would bother us," Nolan said.
That is one of the many reasons some leaders said they would like to see it demolished.
"Some have suggested a homeless shelter and we know that we are short on homeless shelters in this city and long on homeless people," said City Councilman Tim Spies.
The city has been keeping a timeline of the many code compliance violations since 1996. In addition to the timeline, the city police department said that the events happening in and around this building has been putting a strain on its staff.
"We've addressed approximately 1,500 calls for service," said Salisbury Police Chief Barbara Duncan. "From a law enforcement perspective, we've handled everything from assaults, controlled substances and human trafficking."
However, residents like Mark Kilgore who live close to the motel did not seem to agree with the city's plan to tear down the building.
"Now you've got a bunch of empty lots and they are not bringing no more money to the community here, " Kilgore said. "You are just tearing all these places down instead of just investing into it."
"It is an eyesore and the sooner something is done the better," said Nolan.
WBOC contacted Texas based United Central Bank, which currently owns the motel, but did not receive a response about the vacant building. The motel is currently up for auction and the bidding ends Sept. 14.
Thrift Travel Inn in Salisbury. (Photo: WBOC)
