City seeks to shutter nuisance motel 7.11.11

WISH-TV

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The City of Indianapolis is targeting a motel on the city’s far south side, calling it a public nuisance in a lawsuit filed Monday.
The Traveler’s Inn, 602 E. Thompson, has been operating illegally and unreasonably consuming public resources, including law enforcement resources, since July 2008, the suit explains.
“From July 2008 to June 2011, there have been more than 1,200 police runs, and more than 2,200 officers have spent time and resources to investigate criminal, public safety and nuisance complaints at this location,” the suit reads.
The motel is also charged with violating a city ordinance by operating without a business license.
The city is seeking fines, punitive damages and injunctive relief, saying the neighborhoods surrounding the property have suffered because of the nuisance created by the activities that take place at Traveler’s Inn.
"These public nuisance charges being filed are part of a greater effort by the City of Indianapolis to crack down on negligent property owners," said Mayor Greg Ballard. "We will not allow negligent property owners to damage our community and drain our public resources."
"The activities that occur at Traveler's Inn demonstrate the motel's inability to operate a responsible business and provide a safe environment for overnight guests," said City Prosecutor Helen Marchal.
If the city wins the suit, a judge will order the motel to immediately close down until the operators conform to list of requirements.
The motel is listed on online databases priced for "quick sale."  Marchal tells 24-Hour news 8 the owners from 2008-2011 will still be held responsible for the nuisances during the time they owned the motel. 
http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/local/marion_county/city-seeks-to-shutter-nuisance-motel