Independence seeks to fill a hotel previously ravaged by crime

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – The city's Planning Commission recently rejected a proposal to rezone and renovate what was once the Best Value Inn & Suites of America on Brecksville Rd.

The old hotel has been vacant for at least two years. It was the first hotel in the city of Independence before Interstates 77 and 480 were created, according to Deputy Mayor Dave Grendel. Built in the early 60's, it has been used as a hotel since around 1965.

According to Grendel and police chief Michael Kilbane, the hotel was once attracted by crime, prostitution, drug use and human trafficking. "There has been a disproportionate number of crimes compared to other hotels in the city. Management did not cooperate with the investigation, "said Kilbane.

The hotel is currently fenced and Kilbane said there were no more incidents since the end of the operation. The building itself has been seized and is now controlled by the court-appointed receiver, Barry Baker, auctioneer and CEO of Ohio Sheriff Sales.

It was the unbridled history of the building that prompted members of the Planning Commission to be skeptical about the plan to rejuvenate its existence as a hotel. Grendel said:[We] feared that he could open the door to the same thing. "

Mark Tiedemann, representative of MWT Architecture in New York, asked the Commission to modify the zoning of the building. It is currently a U-6 zone reserved for commercial or industrial use. Tiedemann wanted to become a U-6A for hotels, motels, restaurants and gas stations.

At the March meeting of the Planning Commission, Tiedemann said that zoning would be a factor to interest buyers in the property. He said that he had been in touch with Wyndham, IHG and Choice Hotels, but that he had not yet made a decision, as it would depend on the zoning. He explained that if he could not get the zoning, he would not invest in it.

It included changing the exterior of the building to attract visitors and making it a place where the retired people could stay for a long time. Mayor Anthony Togliatti said:[Tiedemann] did not demonstrate that he would be the end user. He was simply trying to zone and resell it.

The members of the Togliatti Planning Commission echoed his concerns. William Guttermuth stated that there must be a management company that wants to buy the property. Dale Lytkowski said: "I'm not sure it's an investment for the city of Independence yet."

Grendel said the Commission was concerned that MWT would buy the hotel cheaply, then return it and sell it. "He's not familiar with the area, we do not see long-term commitment," said Grendel.

After a public hearing on this subject on May 7, at which Grendel stated that no resident was present, the proposal was again considered at the June Commission meeting. Tiedemann did not attend the meeting and did not respond to the contact attempts of the Clerk of the Council. At the meeting, the Commission voted unanimously against sending the proposal to City Council for consideration.

MWT's proposal was the first for the building. Togliatti said at the moment that the Commission was not looking for another hotel but rather "looking for viable proposals that would bring an economic return to the city of Independence".