
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 29, 1990                   TAG: 9003290755
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                                LENGTH: Medium

HOMELESS PROTEST PLAN TO RAZE ABANDONED MOTEL

Homeless youths are protesting plans to raze an abandoned motel near the Oceanfront where some of them have been living in bare cinderblock rooms for months.

By first lying in the path of a truck, then encircling a trailer carrying a bulldozer, the youths - most in their late teens and early 20s - attempted to block the efforts of a demolition crew that arrived Wednesday morning.

The city postponed the demolition after officials determined the permit was invalid.

Assistant city building official Cheri Hainer said the permit authorized A.E. Harold & Son Demolition Inc. to raze only a house on the same property but around the corner from the motel. The company apparently received two permits for demolition of the house instead of one each for the house and the motel earlier this month.

The cause of the mix-up was unclear. But Marie Williams, co-owner of the demolition company, said she would apply for a new demolition permit today.

About 15 youths, several other homeless people and representatives of a ministry for poor families called Mothers Inc. maintained a vigil throughout the day, holding placards lettered with protest slogans and sitting on old chairs and sofas at the entrance to the motel.

Several vowed to stay and face arrest; others said they would do everything short of going to jail to save the building, which has been stripped of doors, windows and fixtures. The motel has neither heat nor electricity, and youths have made do with candles, oil lamps, blankets, foam pads and other discarded items.

The protest began Tuesday afternoon when demolition crews arrived, only to discover that people apparently were living inside the abandoned motel. Police were summoned and after a brief standoff, the crew departed.

By the time workers returned Wednesday, city officials already had posted notices that stated the motel was unfit for habitation.

The motel is owned by Investors Savings Bank of Richmond, which foreclosed on the property last year, real estate agent Charles Wilson said. Because bank officials did not return calls Wednesday afternoon, it was not clear what plans were for the land after the motel is razed.

by CNB