Louisville Blogs

The reaction to Wayside Christian Mission's opening of a hotel in a building it bought that was a hotel is getting more interesting by the moment. Interesting that some Metro Council members, like Hal Heiner, think that Wayside's move to operate the building as a hotel, with penny-a-night rooms for the homeless, is brilliant strategy. Others, like Tom Owen, see it as kind of a shady end-run on regulations. Local media, including us, have been scratching their heads and thinking -- is this legal? It is, for now. According Board of Health spokesperson Kathy Harrison, Wayside must have a permit issued by the state in order to operate a hotel, and it doesn't have one. But no one's shutting down Wayside's hotel just yet. In fact, this afternoon Wayside personnel are meeting with members of the local Board of Health to go over the requirements to remain open. According to state law, Harrison said, Wayside must apply for and be granted a permit from the state within 10 days of opening. The process will require inspections for safety and cleanliness. Once approved, hotels are inspected annually. If Wayside offers food service in the building, there's another set of permits it must apply for. But for 10 days at least, or until someone comes up with a plan to prevent it, Wayside's hotel at Second and Broadway is open for business.

ADD A COMMENT

	rob   fri nov 13 2009 at 2:36 pm         ·  They could make a fortune in May. Homeless people love the Derby.
	cantfindaname   fri nov 13 2009 at 3:08 pm         ·  im a alumni at the healing plac and i think this is a great idea.until u have actually been homeless u should keep ur opinions to urself
	Mixed Mojo   fri nov 13 2009 at 3:31 pm         ·  why do Wayside staff mugshots look so much like...well...mugshots? http://www.waysidechristianmission.org/Wayside_Staff.php
	dax unkle #210412   fri nov 13 2009 at 7:06 pm         ·  From what i've heard about "normal" shelters, this is trailblazing! Priviledged people will complain, but thats because they wanna put thier fingers in someone else's pie!!. For those people to have a place to go and stay warm and safe, this is what america should be about! Helping. Not just driving by the homeless in your 2009 new model douchemobile! Then have the nerve to want to complain about where the homeless get thier money? Are you kiddin me?
	ready eddie   fri nov 13 2009 at 9:04 pm         ·  I think wayside getting the old holiday inn hotel is great. They can offer homeless people that what help help. Families that loss everything a place to get organized. With it being downtown next to JCC is also a great. Two public high schools, numberous elementary schools. A great place those in need of hope and an anchor to restart there new lives.
	Under!   sat nov 14 2009 at 12:53 am         ·  Yeah you know some A-hole is going to try and cause them some problems because they have nothing better to do .
	Survive&Advance   sun nov 15 2009 at 11:26 pm         ·  One more great attraction to downtown Louisville. Anyone who wonders why Louisville can't sell half of the new condos downtown should drop by this dump. However, it will make a short commute to UofL Hospital, the local liquor store, tobacco outlet, and McDonalds. Louisville RiverRat CIty: driving property value down daily. Wear a vest, boys.
	chuck   mon nov 16 2009 at 9:15 am         ·  It's not that trailblazing... it's a common strategy that mega-shelters have used elsewhere to bypass zoning rules and regulations. It may (should) be a moot point though. Almost every other city in the nation has already passed zoning rules for very large shelters that would allow them to operate out of this hotel. The typical rule is that mega-shelters can be placed in "C" (commercial) zones, where hotels and motels of similar size/density would also be allowed. Recognizing the negative impacts to households and residential neighborhoods, some cities also require a buffer zone (a couple of streets) between residential zones and very large shelters when conflicting zones abut each other. If the rest of the country is any precedent we'll ultimately have similar zoning rules here in Louisville. Here's the back room story though... all the attention is on Hotel Louisville right now. Our city officials continue to get more and more upset about the hotel location but Wayside is continuing their fight for the Mercy location. If Hotel Louisville is not a ruse, being done for leverage, why hasn't Wayside dropped their Circuit Court appeal (for the Mercy building)? I'll believe they actually want to operate out of Hotel Louisville only after that is done. Best, - Chuck
	Strawberry Burns   mon nov 16 2009 at 2:36 pm         ·  Survive and Advance, I hope you become homeless some day. You have no idea of the multitudes of decent, non street bum, individuals and families who become homeless. We are in a shakey economic time, for you to blame condo's not selling on ANY homeless shelter or effort to get a handle on the homeless situation in our area shows how out of touch you must be with the reality of a lot of Americans who are struggling to make it ends meet right now. Buying into condo's just isn't on their agenda at the moment.
	GtownGuy   mon nov 16 2009 at 3:25 pm         ·  I'm impressed with the irony that when Wayside could not operate at the site of the former Mercy Academy they have found a way to fulfill their mission on the site of the former St. X.