LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Shively motel has been ordered to close.
The Louisville Manor Motel was issued a notice to close by the Metro Department of Codes & Regulations on Monday.
The department cites “concerns and documented incidents” of theft, assault and drug related activities at the property located off Dixie Highway.
In a statement, director Richard Price said the motel posed a significant threat to the community’s safety and wellbeing.
“Our goal is to ensure the safety of all residents, and as such, the closure of this establishment was deemed necessary and urgent. We express our gratitude to the Shively Police Department for their dedication and will remain focused on enhancing the safety of our city," he said.
Sgt. Jordan Brown with the Shively Police Department tells WHAS11 that officers have responded to over 200 calls to the motel just this year, calling it a 'hotspot' for crime.
“Our officers are pretty much there every day. 202 runs, we’re barely 202 days into the year. It’s at least once a day, maybe more," he said, adding that officers have been making these volumes of runs for years now.
Sgt. Brown said it's never the departments goal to shut down a business, and officers tried mediation steps before getting to the closure.
"Very reasonable things that you would expect of a business," he said. “Not taking cash payments, getting ids from guests who are checking in, recording vehicle license plates, increasing lighting in the parking lot, unfortunately that agreement never came to fruition.”
Sanaiya Lockett lives behind the motel, and said she has been dealing with the motel guests since she moved in.
“It was really irritating, I wasn’t able to have my peace. I couldn’t just come out and sit without someone bothering me," Lockett said.
Lockett said that she was happy to hear the motel was closing.
"I feel like it needs to be something else, something that’s actually resourceful for the community in this area," Lockett said.
District 3 Metro Councilwoman Shameka Parrish-Wright told WHAS11 that she called the motel personally when she heard the news of the closure to make sure no Shively residents would be displaced.
“Once I checked and made sure that no Shively residents would be displaced by this, I understand why they’re doing it," she said. “If you shut it down because it doesn’t work as a hotel, let’s see If we can get a better owner and better management and security and make it a place that people can live and go to work and do the things they need to do.”
The Shively Police Department said the motel will have the opportunity to appeal the decision and hearings will be conducted.
WHAS11 News tried reaching out to the motel to get a response but was hung up on.
It's unclear when the motel will close.
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