By Mark Hansel
NKyTribune managing editor
The City of Florence will have to wait a little longer to begin demolition of the now-vacant Florence Inn.
The city began a process that would have allowed demolition to begin as early as March 1.
It has has now sought injunctive relief, however, to proceed with demolition and protect itself from any possible legal action after the property owner refused to grant permission to enter the site.
Attorney Thomas Nienaber of Florence, a member of the City Attorney’s legal firm, said officials had advertised the demolition and were in the process of seeking requests for proposal. Nienaber said the city notified the owners, Sridar Kadaba and S&J Hospitality Group LLC, informing them of plans to prepare the site for demolition.
“We were informed not to enter for any reason,” Nienaber said. “We have filed a complaint seeking an injunction that will give us and contractors permission to enter for the purpose of executing the demolition.”
The City of Florence filed the complaint in Boone Circuit Court and is in the process of serving Kadaba and all lienholders on the property, after which they will seek injunctive relief to execute the demolition.
Nienaber said the City is within its rights to begin the demolition, but is erring on the side of caution in requesting confirmation from the courts
Kadaba has enlisted new legal counsel, but attempts to contact him, or the attorney, Alex Edmondson, were unsuccessful.
The Florence Inn, located at 8049 Dream Street, had become primarily a residential facility and suffered from years of deferred maintenance. On April 2, the Northern Kentucky Health Department gave Kadaba six weeks to submit a plan of action to repair 20 violations, 14 of which were considered critical, at the property.
Among the violations listed were rodent droppings in unoccupied rooms, bedbugs, sagging floors that were unable to support weight, mold observed on walls, ceilings and behind wallpapers throughout the facility and multiple broken windows.
That began a process that has taken, to this point, nearly a year to resolve.
The property remained below standards following subsequent inspections by the Health Department, Florence code enforcement officials and fire department personnel, as well as the Boone County building inspector.
On Sept. 9, the motel’s permit to operate was suspended and the building has been vacant since tenants and guests were ordered to leave a few days later.
The Florence Code enforcement board approved an order of demolition Oct. 7, but Kadaba was given 45 days to bring the building up to code or file an appeal.
An appeal was filed in November, but was withdrawn and removed on December 28.
Kadaba has listed the property, which has an assessed value of $1.38 million, according to the Boone County Property Valuation Administrator, for sale, but has had no takers.
The City of Florence notified all lienholders of its intention to demolish the property and posted a legal advertisement in local news publications Feb. 4 seeking bids for the demolition. Bids were accepted through Feb. 18 and Kadaba was subsequently notified of the City’s plan to prepare the site for demolition.
City officials say they have followed all of the requirements for notification and are on firm legal footing in pursuing the demolition and there have been no substantial attempts to make repairs at the motel since it was shut down in September. The only noticeable changes to the property is the removal of some exterior signage.
A hearing date will be set after all parties have been notified and Kadaba, and/or Edmondson, respond to the complaint.
Contact Mark Hansel at mark.hansel@nkytrib.com