City orders hotel to close its doors

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The City of Austin is working to close a North Austin hotel, known for drugs and prostitution, in an effort to improve the neighborhood. The Budget Lodge Hotel at 9200 North IH-35 was recently ordered to close its doors. The city attorney's office filed a lawsuit against the owners of the hotel, citing it as a public nuisance.

The City of Austin's Police department Nuisance Abatement Unit, Solid Waste Services, Code Enforcement Division, City of Austin law department's Affirmative Litigation Division, Travis County District Attorney's Office, along with the neighborhood are working together to get rid of an eyesore.

"It makes me happy, because it's like a lot of crime and those types of people who run around here," said Jamie Richardson, who lives two blocks from the hotel. "Hopefully it will get them to go somewhere else."

"I'm so scared to go outside and do my laundry, because I'm afraid something is going to happen to me," said Michelle Urias, who also lives a few blocks from the Budget Hotel.

Richardson and Urias believe drugs and prostitution have run their neighborhood down. So, word that officials are pushing to close it is good news.

"It makes me happy, because it's like a lot of crime and those types of people who run around her and hopefully it will get them to go somewhere else," said Urias.

Austin City leaders have noted the 463 police calls, over an 18-month period, to the hotel. Most of those calls where for drugs and prostitution. In October 2008, the city's building and standard's commission declared the hotel a public nuisance and sited it for building violations. That led to the Budget Lodge's license being suspended, which means it should not be operating.

"It's just been overwhelming criminal activity and we've given the owner, Mr. Hall, numerous opportunities to stop this criminal activity," said Assistant District Attorney David Laibovitz. "He's aware of it, we've worked with him and finally it can't continue to go on."

The hotel is still operating. The manager was asked why city orders are being ignored.

"Ma'am, I cannot make a comment," said the manager, who would not disclose his name. No comment or action by Larry Hall, who owns the Budget Lodge, has lead to a lawsuit and the reality to a community that the end may be near for a trouble causing business.

"It's not alleviating it totally, but it's helping it a lot," said Urias.

The hotel remains open, even though it does not have a license. Attorneys said the owner is racking up violations daily and will have to answer to the judge.