EASTON, Md.- With broken glass, boarded windows and weeds taking over the parking lot, you would never know a vacant building on Route 50 in Easton was meant to be a hotel that included a 65 rooms and an indoor pool.
After a year of sitting vacant, the property is set to be auctioned off on Thursday. Emmanuel Muganda lives right behind the unfinished hotel, but hopes it remains a hotel.
"When we moved here all this place was vacant and now there is a hotel and a tractor business and also further ahead we have more hotels so I figured Easton was growing," Muganda said.
Some say a hotel would bring jobs to the community.
"A lot of local people would be hired here for the hotel," Muganda said.
"I think we need some jobs and the economy needs a boost," said Jan Perez of Easton.
While some nearby residents are happy to see Easton growing, some argue the town just is not big enough for another hotel.
Sally Deren drives past the property every day. She said the space needs to be filled, just not by a hotel.
"I would prefer not a hotel because I think we have enough in Easton and I don't think the hotels on 50 do that much business anyway cause people want to come to the charm of Easton and stay downtown," Deren said.
Constance Spear of Easton agrees and says the place needs a facelift.
"It is kind of an eyesore with broken windows and think, it could be a business or something other than a hotel possibly," she said.
The fate of the property will be decided by the highest bidder in Thursday's auction.
