NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After once again hearing from the owner of the Atrium Hotel, Joshua Joseph, the Hutchinson City Council unanimously voted to tear the building down at their meeting Tuesday afternoon. Ultimately, it was the testimony of Hutchinson Fire Chief Steven Beer and local resident Jackie Long that won the day.
"I think there's one thing we should have a quick discussion on here," said Hutchinson Fire Chief Steven Beer. "That is what we deal with day in and day out, the safety aspect of our workers in the city, my men and women, the police department's men and women that have to deal with this project, if we keep kicking it down the road. We are going to get somebody killed in this building. That's a fact, if we keep kicking this can down the road. We take enough risks the way it is, each and every day. My men and women respond on calls, but these are necessary risks that we have. With this building and stuff like that, it's just, there's no fence around it. It's going to get cold here towards the end of October. That's going to happen. There's going to be issues again with individuals taking up housing in that facility. I'm pleading with you. I say a prayer every night for my men and women on protecting their safety and I want you to consider that. Police officers and firefighters that have to go into these buildings to take care of these situations, that's a risk that we don't need."
Long's years of frustration living in that neighborhood came through in her comments, but she remained as cordial as possible, under the circumstances.
"I live at 1329 North Lorraine, across the street from the Atrium," Long said. "I want to remind you, the building is unsafe to be in. It's posted that way. There are people in and out of that building right now, taking, I guess, at the owner's permission, they are removing things. There are people that are living in the building. I have one question. Was Mr. Joseph owner of this property the last five years? Yes or no? Does an owner that cares about the property, or the city, treat the facility as they have, or do they protect their investment? The only protection that has been done has been by our city maintenance people and at the urging and the request of the city, not voluntarily, none of it."
She simply urged the council to do something and they have. Matt Williams with the city explained what will happen next.
"Due to the lack of progress on the repair or demolition of the structure and the lack of the required cash bond, the city will be moving forward with the demolition of the structure," Williams said. "A formal report of the bids and the award of the bid will take place in the coming weeks."
It's not clear until the bids are dealt with exactly how fast it can come down.