MEMPHIS, Tenn. — They said the former Quality Inn on West Alston in the French Fort community has become a nuisance.
It has even gotten the attention of City Council members.
“If this were any other community, it never would have been there as long as it ha:,” said Council member Janis Fullilove.
Sara Lewis said she gets frustrated every time she drives by the old Quality Inn in her community, so frustrated that she had some words for the owner of the property while WREG was in the middle of an interview.
“Everything goes on over there and you don’t care. You own it, fix it up and clean it up,” she said.
Lauren Crews is the owner.
He said the reason the building is still standing is because it’s worth at least $500,000 and he doesn’t have the funding to tear it down.
He also said what happens next with the I-55 Crump Interchange project impacts his property.
“15 years ago, they said they were going to do a realignment of I-55 Crump and until they tell us exactly where the road systems are going to be, it’s going to be very difficult for me to find the funding,” he said.
TDOT said projects like that will take time. Interim Public works director Robert Knecht says Crews may have to face a judge.
“They’ll have to respond to environmental court to the questions whether or not the judge feels we have shown just cause for either the property owner to take appropriate steps to address the blighted property of it or to remove the property all together,” he said.
