MARYSVILLE, Calif. — It’s been more than a month since the Hotel Marysville was destroyed in a fire and the city is no closer to demolishing the building. The city and the building’s owner are nowhere near a resolution either.
Christopher Marin, at The Lighthouse Barber Parlour, and other community members were looking forward to a special meeting Tuesday to find out what’s going on with the hotel.
ABC10 first spoke to Marin after the fire. His business is across the street from the ‘impact zone’ should the hotel collapse.
“I think being a part of the community it’s my duty to go,” said Marin. “Coming down, as weird as it sounds, I think it could be something good for the community.”
Melissa Swink, owner of the Backyard at Honey Barn, agrees.
“Just rip the band-aid off now and tear the hotel down if that’s what we need to do to get the businesses back open,” said Swink.
She worries the longer the wait, the more likely it is the roads will be closed for demolition during the holiday season. She and other businesses can’t afford to miss out on those customers.
“It’s more than half that I’ve lost,” said Swink.
Her brick-and-mortar store is now hosting events, offering curbside and delivery, and she’s even taken on a second job to stay afloat.
Other businesses like Morris Cycle had to shut down for a time and even still Corey Morris can’t access the front of his store due to street closings.
“It’s pretty much drowned out any new business. We have no cars going in front of us for the last three or four weeks,” said Morris.
The city has rejected the hotel’s offer to give them the building and is suing instead. The city also claims the building is full of asbestos and is a hazard after testing two people.
DJK Counsel, who represents the hotel, says they’ve been provided no proof of an investigation, inspection or emergency.
“Obviously we don’t want to see it demolished. It’s a historic building and quite frankly private property that belongs to my client, but there is no emergency that requires this building to be demolished and the city has not given us due process,” said attorney Dan Katz.
The city told ABC10 Tuesday no one was available to answer questions. The cause of the fire hasn’t been released yet.
WATCH MORE ON ABC10: Marysville declares state of emergency after hotel fire
