Lakeland church is tired of drug use, prostitution, more at nearby hotel
Scott Benjamin is the founding pastor of theRefuge Church at 9817 Huff N Puff Road in Lakeland. (Courtesy theRefuge Church)
A Lakeland church is tired of dealing with the crime and illicit behavior related to the hotel next door, and thinks it is time for the suburb to address the problem.
Staff from theRefuge Church, which opened at 9817 Huff N Puff Road 14 years ago, voiced support of Lakeland’s recently approved 15-cent property tax increase. Some of that is earmarked for redevelopment of the Lakeland Gateway area north of the Interstate 40 and Canada Road interchange. That redevelopment would include the demolition of their neighbors, and headache, the Econo Lodge.
“Countless times we found used uncapped needles, used condoms, drug paraphernalia and urine-filled bottles left behind. People using electrical outlets to charge their phones and then urinating (and) defecating in that same spot,” said church Deacon Kevin Pickering at last Thursday’s Board of Commissioners meeting.
In addition to drug use and prostitution on their property, the church even had a bullet go through its entryway at night when no one was there. There has been extensive damage to water lines, mailboxes, the basketball goal and parking lot from large trucks driving through.
Numerous attempts to reach a representative of the Econo Lodge regarding claims by church members went unanswered.
Larissa Dacus, theRefuge Church administrator, suggested that if the city does not condemn the hotel and tear it down, then it becomes complicit in the crimes that occur there.
“We’ve really never turned anyone away at Refuge in the 14 years since we’ve been there,” said Scott Benjamin, founding pastor of the church and Arlington school board member. “That’s who we wanted to be, to be able to help. God planted us right there in the middle of that area, and so there’s been lots of opportunity for ministry.”
He says despite their good intentions, they became seen as a “cash cow” for the hotel because the church would pay for a night’s stay at Econo Lodge for those who could not afford it.
The church plans to stay in the area through the upcoming redevelopment. Lakeland had initially indicated an intention to buy the church property.
“The number that they ended up coming back with was just not sufficient for us to be able to sell and go buy something,” said Benjamin, citing the current high cost of new construction. “Since then, they’ve backed out of buying our property.”
A full renovation of the church is now planned, including a new roof, completely reworked interior and redesigned facade.
The condemnation process on the Econo Lodge is underway with a new YMCA envisioned for the property.
“We want to make sure that that building gets down as soon as possible because of the activity that goes on there,” Lakeland City Engineer Emily Harrell said.
Depending on what happens at the June 28 mediation, the hotel could be razed by July 21.
“I believe if we don’t take action on this then we have absolutely failed on public safety, and we would be considered soft on crime if we do not proceed with this,” Commissioner Jim Atkinson said.
Once the city acquires the property, 24-hour security will be on site until the hotel is demolished.
Topics
City of Lakeland Econo Lodge the Refuge Church crimeMichael 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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