Hotel says issues will be resolved before DNC

CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — Two uptown hotels will serve as anchors for the Democratic National Convention in September.

The DNC announced that the Westin and the Hilton Center City will be the headquarters for party leaders and the Obama campaign.

North Carolina delegates will stay in the Crowne Plaza Hotel uptown near the arena.

Other delegations will be staying near the airport, in the University area, in the SouthPark area and in Concord. All are just a short drive to the events.

But one hotel on the list is still facing questions about code violations and safety issues. It's the Blake Hotel on McDowell Street.

When the DNC held a news conference to announce which hotels will host state delegations for the convention, the Blake Hotel was on the list. It stood out to Eyewitness News not because it's hosting California but because of a letter that county inspectors sent to the Blake's owner two weeks ago, saying “you have... failed to address exterior veneer structural failure and continue to perform work without the required permits."

So Eyewitness News asked DNCC CEO Steve Kerrigan about it.

“I'm not aware of it but we have safeguards in place for all situations,” Kerrigan said.

For nearly a year, Eyewitness News has told you how county inspectors have found repeated code violations during renovations at the Blake.

But Tuesday, the Blake's owner, George Dfouni, told Eyewitness News from his office in New York that his crews are now on track to correct them.

“As far as I'm concerned, the list if being addressed,” Dfouni said. “We need a few more weeks to finish up that list and we'll be done.”

Code and fire inspectors who first raised questions about safety at the Blake last year now say they believe significant progress has been made at the hotel in the last week.

And the DNC’s Kelsey Larus, who's in charge of the convention's massive housing operation, said she's made clear to the Blake what's on the line.

“They understand the gravity of what's coming to Charlotte and how important the Blake is to our room block and to the state of California, which the Blake will be hosting,” Larus said.

The DNC said it has safeguards in its contracts with hotels and could move the California delegation if necessary.

WSOC