Jul 02, 2024

Hearing set for beginning of Atrium condemnation process

Posted Jul 02, 2024 3:27 PM
A hazmat team with the Hutchinson Fire Department, along with City Manager Enrico Villegas and Mayor Greg Fast, inspected the Atrium Hotel property in June. Image Courtesy City of Hutchinson
A hazmat team with the Hutchinson Fire Department, along with City Manager Enrico Villegas and Mayor Greg Fast, inspected the Atrium Hotel property in June. Image Courtesy City of Hutchinson

NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After seeing a video of the inside of the Atrium Hotel property when it was inspected, the Hutchinson City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to set the public hearing date to begin the legal process that could result in the condemnation of the property.

Hazmat team members and City leadership inspected the Atrium Hotel in June. Image courtesy City of Hutchinson.
Hazmat team members and City leadership inspected the Atrium Hotel in June. Image courtesy City of Hutchinson.

"The hearing date has to be 30 days after the second publication," said City Attorney Paul Brown. "The soonest we can hear this is August 20. At that point, if you decide that it is determined to be an unsafe building, after the hearing has occurred, there's a resolution that you adopt to indicate that. Then, just like our other demos we've done in past years, there's a time for the individual to remedy the situation, to make it so that a certificate of occupancy can be issued."

Condition of a hallway at the Atrium Hotel. Image Courtesy City of Hutchinson
Condition of a hallway at the Atrium Hotel. Image Courtesy City of Hutchinson

The condition of the building is such that, unless they know there is someone inside, the Hutchinson Fire Department will not go in if there is a fire.

Black mold is present in dozens of rooms at the Atrium Hotel. Image courtesy City of Hutchinson.
Black mold is present in dozens of rooms at the Atrium Hotel. Image courtesy City of Hutchinson.

"There's no water to the place," said Fire Chief Steve Beer. "The sprinkler system is non-existent. In fact, the post indicator valve, we confirmed that this week, is shut off on the east side of the property, which controls the sprinkler system. Unless we actually see somebody going in the building, or we know we have a possible rescue or something, we are not going to enter that building. When you fill it with smoke and stuff, it's just a suicide mission."

The City Council will not buy the property. If they tear it down, it will be to make it so that someone else can own it and build there.

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