An abandoned hotel off East Bay Street is becoming a crime hot spot, according to some residents of the Okra Hill community, who are asking for members of the Urban Renewal 2.0 program to demolish it.
According to residents Anthony Miller and Nikita Gray, their neighborhood is under attack by people who use the abandoned building to hide drugs, stolen items and guns.
"I've been living through here all my life and this is the worst it's been around here," said Gray. "We already have a stigma in regards to the drugs and the different things happening through here, now we have to worry about purse snatchers."
Gray said during the night she hears gunshots and fights emanating from the hotel.
She said she has contacted Urban Renewal and nothing has happened.
"It's not safe," she said. "The minute you see dark drops nobody [stays] outside, because you see so many strange faces and you don't know who is who."
Gray said as far as she is concerned the hotel is a haven for criminals.
"You have [addicts]; you have thieves; you have robbers; you have guns; you have everything hiding in there," she said. "[And] I'm sure we're not the only two who have called about it."
Miller said something should be done about the hotel.
"They need to step up and do something, don't just brag about Bain Town, everything is Bain Town," said Miller.
"Come up in the Oak Hill area, we need help."
Gray said his home in Pinewood Gardens was demolished by Urban Renewal for the same reasons he is seeking to have the abandoned hotel demolished.
"My house belonged to the bank too and they knocked it down," he said.
"If they can't knock this [hotel] down the government might as well reimburse me for my money for my house in Pinewood Gardens."
Urban Renewal Coordinator Stephen Dean said he was aware of the complaints, and noted he would push for the owners to clean up the property immediately.
He said if they fail to do so he would seek to have the structure demolished.
Urban Renewal 2.0 has destroyed numerous derelict buildings that police said is a hub for criminals to store drugs and guns.
Yet, the program is not without controversy.
In the last two months, at least two people whose homes were destroyed as a result of the program, said officials did not warn them of the impending demolition.
However, the government has touted the program as major factor in the reduction of crime since it took office on May 7.

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