PITTSBURG, Kan. —
A Pittsburg hotel and restaurant heavily damaged in a February windstorm will be demolished after intervention by the city of Pittsburg. But it will be rebuilt.
“People were calling it the ‘Blue Tarp Motel,’” City Manager Daron Hall said Friday of the Economy Inn & Suites on South Broadway, referring to blue tarps on the roof. “People have been calling us for months complaining about it, but it was a private business and we were waiting on the owner.”
The 66-unit hotel, which is comprised of seven buildings, including a restaurant, was owned by a Wichita family that also owns other hotels in the Midwest.
Attempts to reach the owners or their local representative were unsuccessful Friday.
“The reason it took so long was that the owner and his insurance company were at odds,” Hall said. “There was an issue over whether it needed to be repaired or destroyed and rebuilt. The cost to repair it was more than half of the value of the building.”
Under Kansas law, municipalities hit by a natural disaster can hold a portion of insurance payouts until damaged buildings are rebuilt or the site is cleaned up, when the money is released. This provides the cities with funding to cover demolition if no action is taken by an owner, Hall said.
Hall said that law “gives the city both the authority and the means to knock it down, and so we finally issued an order for demo.”
The insurance company filed an injunction, which led to mediation between the company, the owner and city officials.
“We all finally came to an agreement that it is going to be demolished and rebuilt,” Hall said.
Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau Director B.J. Harris said the loss of the hotel for the past year had a mixed effect on the local travel industry.
“There were missed opportunities a few times when we’re fully occupied, such as the Four State Farm Show and (Pittsburg State) commencement, and a few athletic tournaments,” Harris said. “But some of the other properties saw a boost in their overall average occupancy.”
“We’re on pace to have the best year we’ve had; it’s been a good year for travel tourism,” Harris said of Crawford County lodging. “But when you start looking at trying to grow, at having bigger events and more people, you want those rooms.”
City officials anticipate a representative of the owner will be in Pittsburg in the next few weeks to discuss rebuilding.
Hall said the city hopes the new hotel will include a 5,000-square-foot conference room and as many as 100 beds.
Hotel count
Before the loss of Economy Inn & Suites, Pittsburg had 454 hotel rooms available; afterward it had 388.
Local News
Pittsburg hotel to come down, be rebuilt
- Local News
-
-
Old McDonald County Courthouse to hold grand opening celebration this weekend
As Jean Stratton-Bird made her way into the war memorial room at the Old McDonald County Courthouse on Thursday, she came face to face with the memories of her brother Eldon E. Stratton, who was lost in battle in 1943 during War World II. “He is finally home,” Stratton-Bird said.
-
Murder warrant issued in fatal domestic shooting
Police believe Doyle Handle shot himself after fatally shooting Dena Davenport during a domestic disturbance Thursday night at their residence in Grove. Officers responded to a 6:55 p.m. report of a shooting at the couple’s home on Wood Street on the southwest side of Grove and found Handle, 52, in the front yard with a gunshot wound to his jaw.
-
Local lawmakers review session accomplishments
Joplin area lawmakers cited accomplishments and disappointments in the just-concluded Missouri legislative session during a brunch Friday sponsored by the Neosho Chamber of Commerce. Measures benefiting veterans issues were addressed in the session that ended a week ago, along with work force and labor issues, lawmakers said.
-
Diamond High School band prepares for Liberty Bowl
Classes were winding down last week at Diamond High School, but not for members of the marching band. Instead, they dug out some new music and began their first rehearsals in preparation for their next major appearance — the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, which is scheduled for Dec. 31 in Memphis, Tenn.
-
Area pools ready for plunge; Schifferdecker opening still to be announced
Though this week’s mild temperatures may not signal swim season, most area pools are ready anyway. And, the mercury should rise a little this weekend to help those anxious to dive in. Highs will be in the low 80s today and Sunday. There is a chance for isolated thunderstorms on Monday, but the thermometer should hit 82 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
-
Joplin School Board decision could take up to two weeks; Turner remains on paid leave
It could take up two weeks for the Joplin Board of Education to decide whether Randy Turner’s teaching contract should be terminated, the school district’s attorney, John Nicholas, said Friday.
-
Joplin insurance agent seeks donations for Moore, Okla.
After losing an office building and her home in the tornado on May 22, 2011, Loretta Bailey is familiar with the destruction that a tornado brings. The 400 households that her insurance agency helped through the aftermath of the tornado also know that loss. \
-
Families, friends invited to honor veterans with flags this weekend
Small lengths of plastic pipe have been installed behind the headstones of veterans graves in Joplin cemeteries so that every veteran will have a flag on Memorial Day.
-
Events, activities planned to honor veterans Monday
No ceremonies are planned at Joplin cemeteries this year or at Mount Hope Cemetery in Webb City, but a number of other events are scheduled in cities around the region.
-
Oklahoma gets far more than its share of disasters
Many states get hit frequently with tornadoes and other natural catastrophes, but Oklahoma is Disaster Central.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Old McDonald County Courthouse to hold grand opening celebration this weekend
