The fate of Hotel Marysville on 100th anniversary of groundbreaking

(FOX40.COM) — Tuesday marks 100 years since the first shovels turned dirt to begin construction of the Hotel Marysville that now stands as a charred and blackened skeleton of its former self.

The last five months leading up to the momentous anniversary have not been ones of joy or pleasure for the City of Marysville, Hotel Marysville ownership, Marysville locals and business owners.

Hotel Marysville Consumed by Fire

On the night of June 15, firefighters with the Linda Fire Protection District found heavy smoke and flames erupting from the windows and roof the Hotel Marysville .

Firefighters found that several fires had been burning inside the longtime vacant building but had still not determined the cause of the fires.

“It looks intentional. The sad part about it is they were going to try and bring this hotel back to life,” said resident Debra Monks who fought back tears as she watched the building burn. “Now it’ll probably just be torn down because it’s a total loss. It’s completely gone inside.”

When the sun broke on Sunday morning and the true devastation of the fire could be seen, concerns over the building’s structural integrity were raised.

Closing State Route 70

On June 17, the California Highway Patrol announced that SR-70 would be closed in downtown Marysville over concerns that the hotel could collapse onto the highly trafficked roadway.

“This could be an extended closure if the building, which opened in 1926, needs to be demolished,” Caltrans said on social media . “A detour is being developed for commercial trucks and will be shared when finalized. Use 99 as an alternate route.”

The long-term closure not only affected drivers but also the numerous businesses located along SR-70.

“We will also be seeking ways to reroute traffic to minimize economic impact to local businesses during the detours,” Marysville City Manager Jim Schaad said in June. “In the meantime, we ask the public, business owners, and commuters to be patient with us as we work through the next steps.”

On June 21, the City of Marysville declared a local state of emergency due to the “significant risk” that the building placed on the community.

Engineers recommend establishing a perimeter of 105 feet from the building and urging officials to protect or vacate any buildings within the hotel’s radius.

SR-70 Partially Reopened

Around a month after SR-70 was completely shut down in downtown Marysville, Caltrans announced that the roadway would be partially reopened .

A perimeter of 10-foot-high barricades was installed along the roadway for the southbound lanes of SR-70 to reopen.

City of Marysville Files Lawsuit Against Property Owners

“At some point, if we spend money to tear the building down or shore up the building, whatever that may be, we will be pursuing from the owner that expense,” said Schaad in July.

During the week of July 8, Schaad filed a complaint against Feather River Plaza LLC., owners of the Hotel Marysville, in superior court.

“It’s demanding that the owner abate, based on public nuisance law, and it allows us to take action if they do not,” Schaad said. “What we’ve filed does indicate that if we have to do it, we will want to recover money from the owner.”

Two weeks later on July 22, the city issued a public statement criticizing the building ownership group for “moving at a sluggish pace.”

“Marysville Municipal Code section 9.50.130 authorizes the city to immediately abate any nuisance that poses a clear and imminent danger,” the City of Marysville said in a public statement. “The city is preparing to demolish the hotel while at the same time, it is attempting to negotiate a settlement agreement with the property owner to cover the cost of demolition and avoid lengthy court proceedings to recover their costs after the fact.”

Hotel Owners Launch Petition For Marysville to Restore Site

In September, a petition filed by Hotel Marysville attorney Daniel Katz moved to have the city clean up the Hotel Marysville site, remove and dispose of debris, address unsafe conditions, and engage with local stakeholders to develop a plan that “honors the building while meeting the needs of the Marysville community.”

“The owners have been conducting thorough investigations to determine the best approach to mitigate issues around the hotel with good faith practices,” Katz said. “By conducting thorough investigations with fire engineers, real estate brokers, and community members, we hope to provide a path forward that benefits the entire city of Marysville. However, the city must now fulfill its responsibilities and take the necessary steps to protect its local community.”

Panel Orders Demolition of Hotel Marysville

Following the filing of the petition in September, a ruling panel of building experts heard from the city and building owners in October .

The deciding panel of three hearing examiners ruled that the City proved, “by a preponderance of the evidence,” that the burned-up hotel is, by lawful standards, a public nuisance and an imminent threat of danger.

The owners were ordered to acquire permits and show proof that they hired a competent contractor within 10 days of the ruling, according to court documents. If they do so, they have another 60 days to demolish the building.

It was also determined that the Hotel Marysville, in its present condition, is not a qualified Historic Structure subject to the California Historic Building Code.

As of Tuesday morning, FOX40.com learned from the City of Marysville that no demolition/restoration permits were received from the hotel owners.

“The owner has applied for an encroachment permit to have a contractor remove debris from the city street and sidewalk to prevent further contamination of our storm drains, but has not paid the associated fees,” Schaad wrote in an email to FOX40. “Our public works director has reached out to the owner’s representative to resolve but has not heard back.”

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