Yuba County judge rejects city’s attempt to tear down fire-gutted Hotel Marysville
A Yuba County judge ruled Friday that the city of Marysville cannot demolish the fire-gutted Hotel Marysville without permission from the building’s owner, the Feather River Plaza LLC.
Judge Stephen Berrier denied the city’s request to declare an emergency and approve a warrant, which would have given Marysville the ability to tear down the damaged hotel. During the hearing, Berrier called the hotel “a clear and imminent danger,” but ultimately ruled in favor of the building’s owners by limiting the city’s emergency warrant, the Marysville Appeal-Democrat reported.
The emergency warrant would have sped up city efforts to demolish the Hotel Marysville. The five-story national landmark is at risk of collapse after a fire swept through the historic building June 15, weakening its structural integrity.
Friday’s hearing was held after Marysville City Attorney Brant Bordsen requested a ruling on whether the condition of the building could be declared an emergency.
In a letter sent from the legal firm representing the Feather River Plaza LLC, attorneys said they were “vehemently” opposed to the city’s attempt to get a demolition warrant, calling the city’s case an “unconstitutional attempt to forcefully take our client’s property.”
“The city’s pursuit of immediate demolition, without a thorough investigation of the fire’s origin, is premature, unjustified, and concerning,” the letter said.
In the weeks since the fire, Marysville City Council has unanimously approved a state of emergency declaration due to the fire’s economic impact on the city and Yuba-Sutter region. The Sacramento Bee reported that city officials had little confidence the owners of the historic property would accept financial responsibility for a fire that decimated the aging structure.
After the judge’s limited ruling, the city is now unable to tear down the building. It could, however, complete construction to prevent the hotel from falling, though it is not required to do so.
According to the Appeal-Democrat, Marysville officials said they would not take this course of action due to unsafe working conditions within the burned structure.
