10:25 AM CST on Tuesday, November 29, 2005

By BRAD WATSON / WFAA-TV

WFAA-TV

A judge ordered the 20-year-old motel a public nuisance four years ago because of prostitution and drugs.

A new effort is underway to use zoning laws to shut down another motel in Dallas' southern sector that local residents have claimed breeds prostitution and drug use.

Just three weeks ago the City Plan Commission denied a special use permit for a motel at Interstate 35 and Overton that neighbors claimed was also a haven for crime.

There are similar charges against the American Inn Motel near Fair Park that homeowners and a church are going after in attempts to close the business.

Homeowners in the southern sector said since the city won't aggressively go after motels they call dangerous that are close to their neighborhoods, they will.

They also said they are optimistic about the future since a DART rail line will come down Scyene Road in the years ahead and hopefully bring new development.

However, they want to hit the crime issue hard now.

The American Inn Motel is a familiar foe to homeowners southeast of Fair Park.

The Bertrand Neighborhood Association said the motel attracts prostitutes and illegal drug use.

"It's a nuisance because of the traffic," said Willie Mae Coleman, Bertrand Homeowners Associateion. "The kind of people that go there and stay."

In a lawsuit brought by the city, a district judge four years ago found the 20-year-old motel a public nuisance because of prostitution and drugs.

The court ordered improvements over a nine month period.

But homeowners and the True Lee Missionary Baptist Church across the street said management's old ways have returned.

"It just brings in an element that just further degrades the community and makes people feel unsafe by being here," said Rev. Donald Parish.

Appraisal district records showed the motel is owned by Yasoda Enterprises of Terrell.

But when News 8 asked for a comment from the owner, there was no response.

Police confirm there was a homicide at the motel in June, but a clerk denied there is serious crime in the business.

"We don't have any problem here," the clerk said.

Since it has less than 60 rooms, the American Inn Motel must have a special use permit. But the city said it doesn't have one.

So, with help from former park board member Dwaine Caraway, the church and homeowners want to shut down the motel under zoning law.

"These motels, the majority of them, are operating non-conforming without the required SUP," Caraway said.

Neighborhoods near the Interstate motel on I-35 made a similar argument, and the city plan commission agreed and denied renewal of their permit.

The motel is appealing to the city council.

E-mail bwatson@wfaa.com