SOUTHGATE (WWJ) - A Southgate motel was forced to shutdown this week over unsafe conditions in the building, forcing a number of renters out of their homes.
WWJ's Mike Campbell said the Motel 6 located at 18777 Northline Road off I-75 in Southgate was shuttered unexpectedly after the two-story building was condemned over incidents with the stairwells.
"The problem is with the upstairs," Campbell explained. "The stairs have had issues and apparently someone fell through stairs earlier in the year and the city shut it down because the repairs haven't been made and they found people renting rooms on the second floor."
The motel was closed over the weekend and everyone occupying rooms on both floors were booted out by Tuesday, August 15. The building now stands empty with wood particle board blocking the stairs, Campbell reported.
According to guests, Motel 6 management said they would refund their money from their last payment on the card on the 15th -- but guests are still waiting.
One woman told Campbell that she was one of the guests that moved out earlier this week. Not only did she have to quickly find a new place to stay while waiting to move into her new house, but now she's out hundreds of dollars.
"They said everybody was supposed to be gone by the 11th," she said to Campbell. "She waited until the 13th to tell everybody they had to leave and she could have told us in advance before I paid. She knew already."
She told Campbell that she waiting on a return of $450, but she's unsure when and if she'll get it.
Another woman with a family of six told Campbell that she's out even more money.
"We paid two weeks up so she owes us almost $1,000 with our deposit and I have no refund coming," she explained. "So it's like, you know, what do you do?"
In her case, Campbell said the Red Roof Inn on Eureka Road has stepped in to help her bills after she was illegally rented to and then forced out of that home and into the defunct Motel 6.
Campbell said at least 20 rooms were occupied at the time the motel was forced to closed.
Following WWJ's reporting on this story, a spokesperson from Motel 6 Southgate issued the following statement:
“The property is temporarily closed to conduct structural repairs on one stairwell, as directed by city inspectors. There is nothing more important to us than the well-being and safety of our guests, hotel staff, and the communities in which we operate. We regret that our guests have been affected by this disruption, and we look forward to welcoming them back as soon as the repairs are complete."