City files lawsuit against Hotel Marysville property owners

(FOX40.COM) — Nearly a month after the historic Hotel Marysville went up in flames with no word on a remedy from the property owners, the city decided to take matters into its own hands.

“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 Marysville City manager, Jim Schaad.

Around 10 p.m. on June 15, the 98-year-old, five-story landmark was destroyed by a massive fire. Recently, the city of Marysville filed a complaint in superior court against the hotel’s owner, Feather River Plaza LLC.

“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.”

Schaad said the cost could be anywhere from $2.5 to $4 million.

Officials said the fire left the building unstable with the threat of a partial collapse, forcing the partial closure of Highway 70, along with some neighboring streets. The City says it could take weeks or even months before they can remove asbestos and get the burned-up hotel demolished.

“Though this is very painful now, I think we would be able to find a developer that would come in and build on that property fairly easily,” Schaad said.

The City hopes to build housing at the hotel site with retail businesses on the bottom floor.

FOX40 reached out to Feather River Plaza LLC but did not received a response.

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