Hotel Marysville owners ordered to demolish building immediately

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(FOX40.COM) — After a months-long battle between City officials and Hotel Marysville ownership, a panel of building experts ordered the historic landmark to be demolished immediately following a massive fire that destroyed it in June.
• Video Above: Historic Marysville hotel destroyed by flames

The decision released Thursday was in response to an appeal made by the hotel’s owners, Feather River Plaza L.L.C, against the City of Marysville’s orders to abate the hotel. The deciding panel of three hearing examiners ruled that the City proved, “by a preponderance of the evidence,” that the burned-up hotel is, by lawful standards, a public nuisance and an imminent threat of danger. Hotel Marysville owners were ordered to take financial responsibility for demolition.

“The Hotel Marysville is having a negative impact on the City and the public in its current condition,” the panel said. “Specifically, it has been found to contain asbestos, lead, and other materials that are not contained within the building due to the lack of walls, windows, and roof. The risk of failure of the building with little to no warning is also causing traffic delays and detours due to road closures resulting from perimeter fencing around the property.”

The owners were ordered to acquire permits and show proof that they hired a competent contractor within 10 days of the ruling, according to court documents. If they do so, they have another 60 days to demolish the building. If they fail to do so, the City may demolish the five-story structure and recover costs from the Hotel Marysville owners.

It was also determined that the Hotel Marysville, in its present condition, is not a qualified Historic Structure subject to the California Historic Building Code. Even if it were, state law allows the demolition of historic structures if they are damaged by fire and present an imminent threat to the public or adjacent buildings, according to the panel.

On top of bearing financial responsibility for demolishment, the panel also upheld an administrative penalty of $300 per day which has been accruing since August 1, when a notice of violation and penalty order regarding the public nuisance was issued. The owners appealed the notice on August 11.

The decision comes days after the hotel’s owners issued a press release that accused the City of obstructing their efforts to “cure the issues at the property and engaging in continued harassment.” On Sept. 29, the owners expressed dissatisfaction with there not being a criminal investigation into the cause of the fire and suggested the City had ulterior motives.

“Prior to the fire, the owner planned to sell the property to Habitat for Humanity to provide affordable housing,” said Daniel Katz of DJK Counsel, Ltd., attorney for the owner. “However, the City’s redevelopment plans for the site seem to prioritize high-dollar rental income, raising concerns about the true motivations behind the push for demolition.”

Katz added, “The Marysville Community Development Director, Dan Flores, was heard on a Facebook Live conversation the night of the fire intimating that the fire chief may have had involvement in starting the fire. He was later heard contemplating the site becoming a fast-food restaurant in the future. To that end, the City has also discouraged potential buyers who were interested in purchasing the property after the fire.”

The hearing panel for the appeal reportedly consisted of building inspectors familiar with structural integrity and state building codes who are not employed by the City of Marysville.

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Veronica Catlin

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