Councilman Casimir Butcher pressed a contractor and the project manager on the status of the long-delayed renovation of the Old Sheridan hotel on East 70th Street, telling them the unfinished site has become an eyesore for nearby neighborhoods and businesses.

The dispute matters because the unfinished building sits on a visible corridor adjacent to Whole Foods and multiple mixed-use developments and, residents and council members said, has attracted complaints and safety concerns.

Butcher asked project representatives to explain recent activity at the site and what the city could do to speed completion. A project representative identified in the meeting as Mister Morgan, project manager, said interior work has progressed in places — "we swung most all the doors. A lot of carpets gone in. A lot of interior finishes on sixth, fifth, and fourth" — but acknowledged mold in hallways and some rooms on the first and second floors and said the team has sought pricing from remediation firms. "We do have mold in the hallways and in some of the rooms on first, second, And we are getting a remediation company come in and look at it," Morgan said.

Morgan told the council that subcontractors had not been paid because the loan financing for the project needed to be "readjusted," and that ownership expects to resume full work once financing is resolved. "My understanding is from ownership that within 3 to 4 weeks maximum, we're back to full bore," Morgan said. When asked for an overall completion estimate, he added, "I still say we've got about 4 or 5 months, once they get the loan readjusting and everything." Those timing estimates were offered by the project representative and were not confirmed by other city staff.

Council members and neighbors described recurring delays on this and other stalled projects and asked what enforcement powers the city has. City Attorney Edwards responded that the city appears to have limited direct financial recourse: "I don't know that we have any money in it. I don't know that there is much that can be done," he said, adding that strict enforcement of building codes and property standards could be the principal tool available to the city.

Several council members urged regular updates and more direct involvement from the owner. Butcher asked that the owner appear before council at the next meeting if progress was not evident: "I would like next month, maybe about this time, we'll give you a month to get some things. I'd like for the owner to come over and speak to us today," he said. Morgan and other project representatives said they would continue remediation work and security efforts; Morgan said they have night security in place.

Council members also asked staff to audit enforcement records and interdepartmental coordination for similar dormant apartment and hotel properties in multiple districts. City staff said they will inspect the site, continue communications with the developer and coordinate among public works, property standards and zoning where appropriate.

The meeting recorded no formal motion or vote on the Sheridan property; the council asked for follow-up and for the owner and contractor to provide additional updates at or before the next meeting.