LAS CRUCES – After condemning the building over the summer, the City of Las Cruces is considering demolishing the Kilby Motel.
On Monday, the city council will consider a resolution that would authorize city staff to begin demolition.
The city noted hundreds of 911 calls and an inspection of the Kilby that found dilapidated plumbing, substandard and unsafe structures, and fire extinguishers that had not been updated this century as justification for the demolition. The resolution estimates demolition to cost $125,373.
Resolution to demolish Kilby Motel | PDF | Electrical Wiring | Ac Power Plugs And Sockets
The resolution states the Las Cruces Police Department estimates the department received 303 calls for services between August 2021 and August 2022. Calls for service included:
- 22 codes enforcement calls
- 7 domestic violence calls
- 5 calls regarding fights
- 2 motor vehicle thefts
- 2 overdoses
- 3 shots fired
- 6 thefts
- 7 warrants
- 2 weapons violation
- 15 welfare checks.
The motel was also the site of a Medicaid fraud scam in 2021, according to police and court records.
A property report also found that the motel’s buildings had fallen in disarray. The report cited everything from cracked sidewalks to parking lots without ADA signage to fire extinguishers that had not been serviced since 1999. Also in the report: Extension cords were being used instead of wiring, entire rooms were filled with trash, and sewage ports were discharging sewage waste.
The building was condemned over the summer and no one currently resides at the Kilby.
Now, councilors will decide Monday on the next steps.
The resolution before the council would authorize city staff to contract Sandoval Construction Inc. to demolish the structure. Larry Nichols, community development director, told the Sun-News that the Kilby’s owner would be responsible for the demolition cost.
Nichols said that if the owner chose not to pay, the city would issue a lien against him and complete the demolition themselves.
Justin Garcia is a public safety reporter for the Las Cruces Sun-News. He can be reached at JEGarcia@lcsun-news.com.
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