Council authorizes updated appraisal for 425 W. Main amid redevelopment and public-safety concerns

City staff requested authorization to update a year-old appraisal for 425 West Main Street, a Travelodge property that staff say has shifted primarily to emergency and transitional housing uses.

Assistant City Manager Vince DiMaggio briefed the council that roughly 71% of rooms are currently used for emergency/transitional housing and that the site has experienced substantial calls for police service (staff cited roughly 130 calls within a recent three-month window and 52 calls at the motel in 2023). DiMaggio said staff had completed an appraisal in 2023 at $4,500,000 and previously discussed acquisition possibilities with owners; negotiations stalled but a private-party letter of intent has since been circulated.

Staff said updating the appraisal will help the council evaluate whether to pursue acquisition (including potential city participation in off-site improvements) or consider eminent-domain steps if negotiations with owners and private developers do not produce a desirable outcome. The council unanimously authorized staff to proceed with the updated appraisal and the RFP process to obtain a current valuation.

What happens next: Staff will publish an RFP and return with the appraisal findings to inform next steps for acquisition or participation in redevelopment.