OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A hotel involved in an FBI trafficking investigation is being prepped for sale.
The site has been vacant since the raid in August and has become an eyesore to the community.
The AmericInn Hotel used to welcome travelers off I-80. What remains of it now is a hallowed out, vacant building, waiting for its next chapter. Boards, broken glass and gutted utilities are now visible from the outside.
“It was great that they closed it down but that is about all they have done. Now its just destroyed,” said John Cap.
John Cap owns Chop’s Bowling, down the street from the AmericInn off Interstate 80 and 13th street.
He tells First Alert 6 the abandoned hotel has become a hot spot for vandalism and loitering since the FBI raid. 5 suspects, including the owners, were taken into custody for allegedly trafficking, leaving the hotel empty.
It’s a chapter District 4 city councilman Ron Hug would like to see end.
“It is absolutely embarrassing for somebody to get off i-80, go into the zoo and the first thing they see is a derelict, abandoned building,” said Hug. “It is not a good image for Omaha, its not a good image for my district.”
Hug told First Alert 6, neighbors living behind the hotel on south 15th street have expressed concerns for their safety since the hotel was seized.
“All hours of the day, and night people coming in and out of the building. On the backside you got broken windows, you got windows that are open and they see people crawling in and out of those buildings,” explained Hug. “They are concerned for their safety as homeowners and residents. And they are concerned for the people going in and out of there.”
First Alert 6 spoke with the property’s broker about a timeline for how soon it will be up for sale. They told First Alert 6, crews are boarding up windows and securing doors this week.
After a final evaluation, the site will be posted for offers in the next 2-3 weeks.
Once posted, sellers can take bids and eventually sell the property. The broker tells First Alert 6, a few interested buyers have reached out about the property.
In its hay day, hotel guests would wander over to Chops for a couple rounds of bowling. Cap tells First Alert 6 if it were up to him, he would like to see the site become a hotel again. The AmericInn was the only hotel in District 4.
“I would love to see another motel there. Like I said I thought the one that was there was doing good. You got the zoo right down the street, you got Lauritzen Gardens, downtown area,” said Cap. “I would love to see another hotel down there, I do not want to see another vacant lot.”
For now, neighbors will have to wait and see what comes in next to welcome visitors to Omaha.
First Alert 6 also stopped by the Rodeway Inn off Fort Crook Street in Bellevue. It’s another location connected to the trafficking investigation.
First Alert 6 can confirm the site is being demolished. City officials tell First Alert 6, the emergency teardown is due to the site being a safety issue.
A neighbor nearby told First Alert 6 off camera that he would like to see a city park or pool go in its place.
First Alert 6 checked in on the five people charged in the sex trafficking investigation. They’re all awaiting trial in federal court for accusations including trafficking in sex, drugs, and labor; and misusing visas.
Prosecutors say 10 minors — many under 12 years old — and 17 adults were rescued from the operation.
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