For Lakeland Mayor Josh Roman, tearing down the first wall at the Econo Lodge at 9822 Huff N Puff Road was personal, a reminder of the troubles associated with the hotel.

As Roman hopped into the cab of a CAT trackhoe Thursday morning, Nov. 9, and swung a ceremonial first blow into the roof and side of the hotel, he thought of a high school friend who passed away a couple of years ago. He recalled that the friend “went down a bad road,” without detailing how his friend’s trouble were connected to the Econo Lodge.

“I’m knocking this place down for him and all the other people that this place took advantage of,” said Roman, who wore a shirt given to him by the friend.

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The elimination of the hotel has helped cut crime in the area, eliminated other troubles associated with the business and is a major step in reinventing an area north of Interstate 40 and Canada Road.

The Econo Lodge, built in 1973, is north of the Lakeland exit of Interstate 40. It had become a magnet for crime in recent years, including rampant drug use and prostitution. The city condemned the property earlier this year.

“This is the culmination of a lot of people giving up a little bit, whether it was the (Shelby) County Commission giving up some of the tax revenue, whether it was the citizens giving up some of their money to fund additional taxes, so that we could do something this special,” Roman said. “Everybody’s got a hand in this.”

There were several people living at the motel when the city took possession last month. Roman said they were shocked to learn on the final day that they had to move. The motel owners had not bothered to tell them they were evicted and the building was being torn down.

“The people who owned this, they were basically just here to take, take, take,” Roman said, pointing out that after the hotel closed a few weeks ago, crime in the area had become nearly non-existent.

Lakeland commissioners Jim Atkinson, Michele Dial and Wesley Wright attended the demolition with each getting the chance to smash some of the motel.

“That felt good,” said Wright, grinning as he exited the cab of the heavy machinery. “Everyone that I’ve spoken to in Lakeland wanted to see this hotel gone.”

“We’ve been trying to make this happen for literally 15 years,” said Atkinson, a former Lakeland city manager. “It just took an ultra-aggressive strategy on behalf of the board.”

The demolition will cost the city more than $320,000 and could be completed in a few weeks. The elimination of the hotel represents the first transformation step of the Gateway area, where TIF (Tax Increment Financing) status was granted early this year.

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A new $20 million Lakeland recreation center to be managed by the YMCA is planned at the site. City officials hope construction can begin by next summer.

“I can’t stop smiling. This is a great day for our Parks and Rec Department,” said Dial, who worked with the Y since 2014 trying to find a space in Lakeland.

She noted the new center will also have a child care center, which will benefit many of the city’s families.

Lakeland is also acquiring the Relax Inn around the corner at 3645 Canada Road. That hotel could be torn down early next year. City officials would like a new Shelby County Sheriff’s substation at that location.