Township has 2 choices to deal with burned Liberty hotel property

LIBERTY

It sat empty for years, the old L-shaped, two-story motel at 1610 Motor Inn Drive.

With its swimming pool accumulating filthy rain water, its doors and windows broken and unlocked, it attracted squatters, drug activity — and arsonists.

One in August was unsuccessful in burning down the structure, but one succeeded Dec. 20.

That night, a fire, set in the same area as the August attempt, got into the roof and spread.

Firefighters from the eastern part of Trumbull County doused it from the outside, not venturing in to risk their lives amid collapsing walls, ceilings and floors.

Over the course of the night, the wing parallel to Motor Inn Drive burned. The next day, the wing parallel to Belmont burned down, fueled by old mattresses, couches, curtains and other remnants of its days as a functioning motel. The rubble smoldered for days.

Now, township leaders are faced with what to do about the fallen, abandoned eyesore.

They have two choices: Hope it goes away, or make it go away.

Read more about the situation in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.