Liberty motel property to go up for sale

By Jeanne Starmack

starmack@vindy.com

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.

Jason Rubin, township trustee chairman, said this week the property, which has no owner, was up for a county sheriff’s sale this month.

Because of the fire, he said, he doesn’t know if the sale will go through. The property is not on the list of sales set for Jan. 15. A spokeswoman at the sheriff’s office could not be reached for comment.

If someone does buy the property, though, Rubin said, that person or company will pay for the cleanup.

It will be a better deal than having to pay for tearing down the motel as well, he said. “It would be over $100,000 to tear it down.”

Rubin does not remember the name of the motel’s former owner, who lives in California, he said. The bank that held the mortgage also would not take ownership of it, he said, to avoid having to spend money to secure it and maintain it.

Rubin said if no one buys the property, the township will check into getting a grant to get funds for a cleanup.

“We’re putting prices together on it now,” he said.

The investigation into who burned down the motel continues.

Lindsey Burnwell, spokeswoman for the state fire marshal’s office, said people who believe they have relevant information for investigators should call 800-589-2728.