WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — Plans to redevelop a piece of land in Winter Garden include tearing down a restaurant as well as a motel that sees regular visits from the city's police department.
Dennis Sanchez said he understands why the city wants to tear down the Budget Inn, where he and his family stay.
"Do you ever see police cars," Channel 9's Julie Salomone asked Sanchez.
"Just parked out down here. Parked out watching the area," Sanchez said.
Documents obtained by Salomone show how many times police officers were called to the Budget Inn on West Colonial Drive. In the past two months officers responded to calls related to child abuse or neglect, sexual battery, narcotics and robbery. Last year, police responded to 78 calls at the motel, and those are just the calls that ended up in police reports.
"That's quite a bit. Would you want to live next door to a place with 78 calls a year? I don't think so," Winter Garden City Manager Mike Bollhoefer said.
Winter Garden officials are working with Intram Realty to redevelop about 6 acres of land on State Road 50. Intram representatives told Salomone that they will spend $6 million to $8 million to revamp the area.
The city says they hope to put up a Wawa gas station and convenience store, restaurants and a high-end hotel.
"The only bad part about it is it is closing down and families do have to be displaced, so where are they going to go?" Sanchez said.
The developer said the Budget Inn could come down within the next six months.
A manager at the motel said he does not know when the motel will close, but said guests are aware that it will be closing.
WFTV
