A notorious motel on Airline Drive near the Orleans/Jefferson Parish line is now closed after the Lousiana Office of State Fire Marshal ordered its owners to shut down the facility.
The London Lodge closed at 5 p.m. Saturday at the fire marshal's order. According to WWL-TV, the fire marshal shuttered the motel on Thursday, giving the people staying there 72 hours to vacate the premises.
WWL-TV's report says the fire marshal said the motel violated its permit, which allowed only short-term guests. Investigators say they found "long-term apartment-type occupancies" at the motel. Indeed, one person who was staying at the facility told reporters that he had been living there for four years.
Neighbors of the New Orleans motel have complained about crimes around the facility. Code inspectors found a number of violations over the years. Those violations include a number of unsafe living conditions, such as electrical hazards, structural issues, trash, rodents, and raw sewerage.
The fire marshal says the motel would be allowed to reopen if it submits a plan for renovations to accommodate long-term guests or if it reopened solely for short-term guests.
