Tupelo gives Comfort Suites 120 days to be razed

Sept. 03--TUPELO -- The Tupelo City Council officially declared the tornado-damaged Comfort Suites a safety and health hazard, and approved its demolition.

The council gave the hotel owner, Fusion Hospitality of Tupelo, 120 days to do so.

But the move shouldn't be seen as a confrontation between the city and the company, or its owner, Bruce Patel.

Shane Hooper, the city's Development Services director, said his department was working closely with Patel on the hotel property.

Patel declined to speak during the public hearing of the council's regularly scheduled meeting.

But after the meeting, he said, "I understand and respect the council's decision. Hopefully the property will see a new life in the near future.

The four-story, 80-room hotel on North Gloster Street was heavily damaged by the April 28 tornado, but the shattered remains still stand.

The Comfort Suites was built in 2008. During the April 28 storm, it had the back of its roof blown. The sprinkler system was triggered as well, drenching everything inside the hotel.

The building has been cordoned off to public access, but it remains the largest storm-damaged structure still standing.

"It's not only full of mold, but water has continued to pour into it," Hooper said.

The city could demolish the building and clean up the property, with Fusion Hospitality footing the bill, paying for the cost of removal along with a penalty of $1,500 or 50 percent of the actual cleaning or abatement cost placed as a lien against the property.

However, the city's preference is that the Fusion Hospitality do the demolition and clearing work.

What Patel plans for the property is unclear, as he awaits word from his insurance provider.

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