SALISBURY, Md.- A long-time hot spot for crime in Salisbury is finally coming down.
The demolition of the Thrift Travel Inn on North Salisbury Boulevard got under way Monday.
The city said the old motel had been a nuisance and an eye sore for years. Now that it is almost gone, some people are wondering what it could mean for the area's economic development.
The city said the demolition was a long time coming. Susan Phillips, housing supervisor with the city's Neighborhood Services and Code Compliance Department, said that not only was the Thrift Travel Inn an eye sore but it also created a huge strain on the city's resources.
"During those inspections the structure was condemned three times for severe safety issues," Phillips said. "And combined with the police department and neighborhood services, we've had over 1,600 calls for service."
Todd Vangeluwe, with Southernboys Concepts, is a representative of the Knorr Brothers who own the railroad station nearby the Thrift Travel Inn.
Vangeluwe said the demolition is welcome news because for a while nothing was being done to utilize the historic railroad station. But now that will change.
"One of the concepts that we talked about is doing a farmer's market," he said. "Doing that in here would help us work with a lot of local farmers and be able to have one area where basically local farmers can bring their goods in."
Doug Marshall, a certified CAI auctioneer and appraiser in Salisbury, said that tearing down the crime-ridden motel means a positive outlook for the future of the city's economic development.
"I wouldn't say that it is going to increase the property values tomorrow but it is a step in the right direction, for people to start seeing less of a problem," he said. "It will be an incentive for the investors to say this property is now gone and that is a good thing for everybody."
Phillips said that the city expects the Thrift Travel Inn to be demolished within the next few days. She said United Central Bank, which is based in Texas, took over the troubled motel and will be looking for a buyer for the property.
(Photo: WBOC)
