ELKINS, W.Va. — Officials in Elkins are working with owner of a troubled property to close it down.
The Four Seasons Motel on Harrison Avenue has been cited several times for code violations, and the residents have been accused of nuisance behavior and criminal activity.
Last year, members of Elkins City Council authorized Mayor Jerry Marco to negotiate the purchase of the building and officials from state and federal agencies began working with the owner and operator.
City officials released the following statement Tuesday:
“Although everyone is eager to find a solution, this is a situation that must be approached with careful attention to constitutional guarantees of due process, the right to be secure in one’s residence, and state laws governing the landlord/tenant relationship,“ officials said. ”The City is working with all deliberate speed to balance the competing desire for urgency with the need to find a legal and permanent solution.”
Don Smith has owned the property since 2012, but recently entered into a contract with Bruce Howell who rented living space. Under the agreement Howell was designated as the landlord of the property.
In November 21 of this year, councilors authorized Mayor Marco to sign an intent to purchase document once all current residents have vacated the property and related conditions are met. The City also advised the Randolph County Housing Authority and other agencies of residents’ anticipated needs to transition into other housing.
Elkins officials said no payment has been made to Smith and no payments are planned until the property is empty. Further, all agreements with the tenants must be legally and ethically terminated to the city’s satisfaction before the purchase can be finalized.
If a purchase agreement is reached city officials said they will secure it with temporary fencing before getting an exterminator treat the property for pests and vermin. Ultimately, the city plans to raze the structure and create a greenspace or welcome area.