Lakeland to condemn hotel property in new TIF district
“In my opinion, the conversation with Quantum Hotels has come to an impasse, and that’s the reason why I asked for this resolution,” Lakeland Mayor Josh Roman said. “The condemnation is for the entire property, including the acreage for the footprint of the (YMCA).” (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)
With a new partnership with the YMCA in the works, Lakeland is taking the first steps to acquire the necessary property for the community and athletic center within its newly formed TIF district.
On Thursday, May 4, Lakeland Mayor Josh Roman added a last-minute item to the Board of Commissioners meeting agenda calling for condemnation of an Econo Lodge property within the city’s “Gateway” TIF district north of the Interstate-40 and Canada Road interchange.
The board unanimously approved a resolution regarding the move.
Preliminary plans for the YMCA in Lakeland include the Econo Lodge Hotel property (owned by Quantum Hotels) at 9822 Huff N Puff Road and extending to the right-of-way for the interchange including theRefuge Church and an adjacent parcel.
“Last Friday we sat down with the owner of (the Econo Lodge) and tried to work out a deal,” Lakeland City Attorney Will Patterson said. “Ultimately that was unsuccessful and has led to this.”
“In my opinion, the conversation with Quantum Hotels has come to an impasse, and that’s the reason why I asked for this resolution,” Roman added. “The condemnation is for the entire property, including the acreage for the footprint of the (YMCA).”
A petition will now be filed seeking possession of the property, with the city offering Quantum Hotels an appraised “fair market value” of $2.25 million. Patterson says the property owners are likely to object to that value, and litigation would then be needed to resolve that dispute.
Patterson notes that in this case, the condemnation process does not factor in the persistent crime problems around the hotel.
“That’s a different type of condemnation,” he said, citing the fact that a recent Parks and Rec study by Kimley-Horn & Associates showed a strong desire from residents for a community center. “The need and desire in the community to have a community center ... is pretty clear. That’s really what this is about and is what the condemnation is proposed for.”
City officials have been frustrated by the fact that the owner, who has been open to negotiations in the past, asked for more money after a “fair market price” had been agreed upon.
Multiple attempts to reach Quantum Hotels for comment were unsuccessful.
The city is also trying to acquire other nearby parcels that fit into the overall plan for the community center, with negotiations underway with theRefuge Church at 9817 Huff N Puff Road.
“In my opinion, the conversation with Quantum Hotels has come to an impasse, and that’s the reason why I asked for this resolution,” Roman added. “The condemnation is for the entire property, including the acreage for the footprint of the (YMCA).”
The Shelby County Commission approved Lakeland for its third TIF redevelopment district in late February. TIFs have become a useful incentive in recent years to help developers and municipalities cover costly infrastructure for projects.
Lakeland’s other two TIFs are part of large mixed-use projects currently well under construction: The $400 million The Lake District mixed-use project on the southeast side of the I-40/Canada Road exit and the $90 million Lakeland Town Square on U.S. 70.
Topics
City of Lakeland Mayor Josh Roman Econo Lodge condemnationMichael Waddell
Michael Waddell is a native Memphian with more than 20 years of professional writing and editorial experience, working most recently with The Daily News and High Ground News.
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