Fate of vacant lot next to Lasick's in limbo

A Route 1 property formerly housing an "unsavory" hotel is in limbo after sitting vacant for more than two years, leaving residents and city officials unsure of its fate.City officials said the Hillcrest Hotel, located on the 9100 block of Route 1, was demolished Oct. 10 and still remains a blank patch of territory on the busy roadway, ringed by chain-link fences.

College Park Planning Director Terry Schum said the city is awaiting news on the property, which has been vacant since State Attorney Glenn Ivey closed it in July 2003.The hotel was purchased by RCP Development shortly after it was closed, but Schum said she was unsure whether RCP had any plans to build on the site."We're just waiting to hear what's going on," Schum said.

Lasick's Beef and Seafood owner Joe Lasick said he is interested in purchasing the land.

"We wanted to buy it, but they want too much money for it," Lasick said. "We've had a lot of family problems lately and haven't been able to do everything we've wanted to do."

In September 2003, the city received state funding to raze the hotel through the Community Legacy grant, a state source of money allocated to urban areas in decline.

Ivey cited the hotel as a public nuisance in 2003 following complaints from residents and merchants that the hotel had been "plaguing the surrounding area for more than a decade."

According to local business owners, the hotel, which was formerly owned by Tirupati I. Friends Partnership and Dr. Sateesh Singh, was a "brothel."

"They rented the rooms by the hour there," said Tammy Hnarakis, owner of Precision Small Engines, close to the hotel's site. "It definitely contributed to an increase in crime while it was there."

Hnarakis, who is also a member of the North College Park Business Association, said she heard RCP had created a site plan for the land, but said no progress was being made.

"It's a shame, because it is such a great piece of property," she said. "[Hillcrest] just didn't use it to its full potential and really abused it."

Contact reporter Sam Hedenberg at hedenbergdbk@gmail.com.