The agenda documents for Tuesday's Hutchinson City Council meeting outline the many issues that have happened on the Atrium Hotel property since its closure.
According to a memo filed by City Manager Enrico Villegas that is part of the agenda for Tuesday, the Atrium Hotel and Conference Center, located at 1400 North Lorraine, closed its doors on December 20, 2019. Water and electric utilities were shut off to the property in January of 2020. That winter, the fire suppression system burst, flooding a large portion of the structure and property. In 2022, a power transformer was drained of oil leading to a spill with environmental ramifications. The structure's electrical system has been stripped by thieves, the burst fire suppression system has led to black mold throughout the structure, and multiple broken doors and windows have resulted in the structure becoming a blight to the community.
Since closing in 2019, the Atrium Hotel and Conference Center has been repeatedly broken into resulting in the need for the City to board up and reboard up the building. The property has had nine nuisance violations since January 2020 and has been the location of 351 police/fire calls. Property owner notifications about nuisance violations have gone unresolved requiring the City to abate many issues.
The current unpaid balance for nuisance abatement is $3,937.
On July 2, 2024, the City Council approved Resolution 2024-08 which fixed August 20, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. to conduct a public hearing for the condemnation of the Atrium Hotel and Conference Center. This resolution was published for two consecutive weeks and the hearing was scheduled at least 30 days past the last publication.
Security 1st Title researched the records at the Register of Deeds to locate any owners, lien holders, mortgagers, or heirs. The owners of record and lien holders were notified by certified mail of this scheduled proceedings.
City staff have inspected and declared the Atrium Hotel and Conference Center unsafe and dangerous as defined in Chapter 21, Article VII, Unsafe and Dangerous Buildings of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Hutchinson.
A public hearing is held so that city staff can present findings showing the reasons a structure has been determined unsafe and dangerous and so that property owners (agents or interested parties) have the opportunity to dispute the findings by showing why the structure in question should not be declared as unsafe and dangerous.
After the hearing, City Council will vote on a resolution that, if approved, will condemn the structure, determine it to be unsafe and dangerous and set a time frame to allow the property owner(s) an opportunity to either repair or demolish the structure(s).
The City Council, as per city ordinance, has the option to require those property owners who request to complete the demolition or repair of their own buildings to provide a cash bond in the amount of the estimated cost to demolish the structure. The cash bond will be returned to the property owner if the rehabilitation or demolition is completed within the designated time frame.
If the property owner fails to start the repair or removal of the structure within the time frame stated, the City Council will then require the structures to be demolished. The cash bond will be used by the City to complete the demolition.
City staff believes that the Atrium Hotel and Conference Center is beyond feasible repair, is unsafe and poses a danger to the surrounding neighborhood and should be condemned as an unsafe and dangerous structure.
Staff recommends City Council approve the resolution as presented, that the property owner be allowed 30 days to repair or demolish and remove the condemned structure and all construction debris, and that October 1, 2024 be the next date for the City Council to review the progress of the rehabilitation or demolition. Staff also recommends the requirement of the cash bond.
The Hutchinson City Council meets Tuesday at 9 a.m. at City Hall.