The City of Greenville won’t be checking out of the Dream Lodge Motel any time soon.
The city purchased the abandoned motel along westbound Interstate 30 almost three years ago, with the goal to eventually tear down the property which had become a public nuisance.
But as of now there are plans to retain the property for the foreseeable future.
City of Greenville Public Relations Liaison Autumn Barton said the city is in no hurry to make a decision on the site.
“Per the city manager, the federal time limit for holding onto the property is five years,” Barton said. “Once that time period has expired, the city hopes to sell the property to an outside party so that it may be utilized in a positive and beneficial manner for all concerned.”
The Greenville City Council agreed to purchase the motel property from federal law enforcement authorities in December 2011.
The plan was to use the facility for training exercises by the Greenville Police Department and Hunt County Sheriff’s Office, with the ultimate goal of tearing it down and clearing the lot.
Police Chief Dan Busken said the city buying the property was the best way to make sure it was not sold at auction and to prevent someone else from opening it back up as a motel which would be a source of criminal activity.
Multiple law enforcement tactical exercises have been conducted on the property.
Local police officers, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshal’s and U.S. Attorney’s offices seized the motel at 1900 Interstate 30 on the morning of Nov. 4, 2010, after it had been identified as a location of high crime and narcotics activity. The motel has been closed ever since.
The council purchased the property and assets from the U.S. Marshal’s service for $22,814.