Condemned Executive Inn in Rock Hill to be demolished by April

The Executive Inn in Rock Hill will be demolished by the end of April, according to an agreement between the city and the owner of the now-condemned motel.

City officials and Punam Patel, who owns the property under the name H.S. Enterprises, agreed to a demolition agreement in December, city spokesman Katie Quinn said.

The Executive Inn, which is on Anderson Road just south of Mount Gallant Road, was condemned by the city in October. Its residents were given a week to move out.

In the condemnation and notice of violation of city code, the city claimed that the motel had “major structural deterioration,” a cockroach infestation, severe water damage and a long list of other violations that made it “unfit for human occupancy.”

Facing charges in the city’s environmental court, Patel and his lawyer in November requested a jury trial, delaying his first court appearance. At that time, Patel said the motel was undergoing a “complete transformation” and that he expected to reopen it in March or April.

Since the motel was condemned, a chain-link fence has surrounded the property. The words “Closed for renovations” are still displayed on the sign. As of Thursday, the motel’s website was still active, and it was still possible to book a reservation.

Efforts to reach Patel and his lawyer, Brian McCoy, were unsuccessful Thursday.

Under the demolition agreement, Patel will have to begin taking the building down by Sunday, and must have completed demolition by April 1. If demolition is delayed because of permit issues or unforeseen circumstances, Patel will have until June 1 to complete the work.

If the demolition is completed and the terms of the demolition agreement are met, Patel’s case in environmental court will be dismissed.

“Mr. Patel and H.S. Enterprises have made good-faith efforts to comply with the agreement,” the city said Thursday in a statement. “We’re confident that we will continue to move successfully toward demolition of the former Executive Inn.”

About 100 residents of the Executive Inn, many of whom had lived there for years, had to vacate the motel in just a few days back in October, prompting quick action by local charities, that worked to help families find new housing.

This story was originally published January 29, 2015 at 12:28 PM with the headline "Condemned Executive Inn in Rock Hill to be demolished by April."