By Clint Wolf - December 20th 2023

 

SOUTH BELOIT

A court ruling that could determine the fate of the long-vacant Garden Hotel may be issued in the next month or two.

South Beloit City Attorney Roxanne Sosnowski said the city had filed a demolition order for the Garden Hotel, which sits at the corner of Illinois Highway 251 and Gardner Street.

A bench trial on the demolition order, held before Judge Ronald Barch in Winnebago County Court, concluded on Nov. 14. The city of South Beloit submitted its final written arguments in the case on Dec. 15. Now the owners of the hotel property have 21 days to submit their final written statements in the case. South Beloit then will have 14 days to reply to the defendant’s arguments.

The city is requesting the owners be ordered to demolish the hotel building because it has become a public safety and health hazard. The city also is asking for payment of code violation fines.

Initially, the name of the hotel owners was listed as Ariva Hospitality, but in recent court filings the owners have been listed as New Chapter Group.

The condition of the hotel has been in a state of deterioration since it closed four years ago.

The hotel closed abruptly in March of 2019 and in September of 2019 the Winnebago County Health Department condemned the property noting unsafe condition. The building had been plagued by flooding problems in its basement and it had to be boarded up by the city because there were frequent break-ins at the property.

If the judge finds that the building is to be demolished and the owner fails to demolish the structure, the city will take action to tear down the building and will seek compensation from the owners, Sosnowski said.

There is a separate action in court for foreclosure on the property due to funds owned for sewer fees owed and funds the city spent on boarding up the property. The city has been seeking to foreclose on the property since 2019.

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