GREENVILLE — The days of driving along Interstate 30 through Greenville and seeing the sign advertising the former Dream Lodge Motel may be numbered.The abandoned motel, which the City of Greenville purchased one year ago, will likely be torn down soon, according to Public Information Officer Lori Philyaw.
“Right now they are trying to determine the least costly way to do that,” Philyaw said.
The Greenville City Council agreed to purchase the motel property from federal law enforcement authorities in December 2011.
The plan was to use the facility for training exercises by the Greenville Police Department, Hunt County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies, with the ultimate goal of tearing it down and clearing the lot.
At the time Police Chief Daniel J. Busken said the city buying the property was the best way to make sure it was not sold at auction and to prevent someone else from opening it up back as a motel which would be a source of criminal activity.
Multiple tactical exercises have been conducted on the property during the past 12 months.
Local police officers, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Marshal’s and U.S. Attorney’s offices seized the motel at 1900 Interstate 30 on the morning of Nov. 4, 2010, after it had been identified as a location of high crime and narcotics activity.
The motel has been shut down ever since.
The Council purchased the property and assets from the U.S. Marshal’s service for $22,814.
