CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte leaders are telling east Charlotte homeowners the city will buy a motel on Independence Boulevard that's been a major eyesore for the community.
Eyewitness News has obtained e-mails showing that City Manager Curt Walton has committed to purchasing the Charlotte Inn Motel. The motel has been a hotbed for violent crime in recent years, and police said it's a daily struggle to keep crime down.
Lt Robert Dance takes pride in the crime numbers near the Bojangles Coliseum, showing off the crime map from this summer compared to last year.
"That map speaks for itself," he said.
Drug arrests, prostitution, and violent crimes are down significantly from last year.
"You see significant decreases in almost every crime category," he said.
But Dance said the Charlotte Inn draws dangerous criminals and transients, and it's a nightly battle to fight crime as long as its up and running.
"There's only so much we can do as a police department," Dance said.
That's where city council comes in. Some members wanted to transform Bojangles Coliseum into an amateur sportsplex and buy up nearby eyesores, including the motel. But that plan didn't make it into this year's budget.
Still, neighbors haven't stopped lobbying.
"We were down for a few minutes, but then we kind of regrouped," said Jason Van Buren, who lives off of Commonwealth Avenue.
City Manager Curt Walton recently emailed residents, saying "I've committed to council member [Patsy] Kinsey we'll find a way to purchase that property. It's a public safety concern and I think we'll be able to take care of it."
In an email, Kinsey said, "Staff is already working on finding a way to follow through with the purchase of the property."
Residents are hopeful the city can buy the land in late September, especially because the Democratic National Convention would have just ended.
"[City leaders] will be really concerned with the image of Charlotte, and really concerned with the safety of residents," Van Buren said.
The Charlotte Inn did not want to comment.