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Tenants urge council to help save Hotel Fort Marvy as foreclosure proceeds
Summary
Tenants, including leaders of a tenants union, asked the St. Marys City Council to help preserve the Hotel Fort Marvy building and reported ongoing problems; a foreclosure hearing and a motion to intervene were announced.
Several tenants of the Hotel Fort Marvy addressed the St. Marys City Council, saying the building has been mismanaged, that a core group remains living there, and that they want help preserving the property rather than being labeled "squatters."
A resident who identified herself as president of the tenants union described ongoing maintenance issues and said seven occupied units remain. She said tenants continued to pay utilities and try to maintain the building and asked the city for assistance to keep the building habitable.
Tammy Booker, who identified herself as the vice president of the tenants union, spoke in agreement and urged the council to consider the building’s history; another tenant said the structure dates to 1812 and suggested historic restoration as an option.
A council speaker said the building’s owner had died and that a foreclosure action is pending; advocates had filed a motion to intervene. The meeting record shows a court hearing scheduled for February 10 at 9 a.m. in Wabash County (described in the meeting as “Wab Club”); an interested company from Columbus was reported to be considering taking the property, repairing it and either holding or reselling it.
Council members did not adopt a new program or fund at the meeting; speakers urged follow-up from county or legal advocates and noted the foreclosure timeline. No formal council vote on a rescue or purchase was recorded at the meeting.
