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City of Raleigh deems Quality Inn on New Bern Avenue unsafe; Guests forced to leave

The Quality Inn hotel had a shooting last week, but it was a building inspection rather than crime that forced guests out.

Posted Updated

By
Amanda Lamb
, WRAL reporter
RALEIGH, N.C. — A Quality Inn hotel in Raleigh started to make guests leave the property on Tuesday after the city has deemed the building unsafe. The hotel, at 4716 New Bern Ave., was the scene of a shooting last week, but it was a building inspection rather than crime that forced guests out.

The city of Raleigh has not officially condemned the hotel, but it has deemed it unsafe from building inspection and fire inspection standpoints.

Guests of the hotel told WRAL News they are upset because they have nowhere to go. Efforts are underway to rehouse them through different city, county and state programs as well as help from nonprofit organizations.

"You can't just push people on the street," said District C Council Member Corey Branch. "So, we're working to find housing."

Melanie Collins has lived at the Quality Inn for almost nine months. She said she has no idea where she'll go after the owner has asked everyone to leave.

Another guest, Michele McAlister, explained her situation.

"We're out on the streets, man," she said. "We're out on the streets."

Signs dated May 9 are posted on the outside of the hotel from city of Raleigh Chief Building Inspector Bryan Robinson and Assistant Fire Chief of Professional Development Ray Enoch.

According to city inspection reports, the building lacks working smoke alarms, emergency lights and carbon monoxide detectors. It has also been the scene of violent crimes.

Early in the morning of May 5, Raleigh police said a man was shot in the head after someone fired shots at the hotel from outside. On the same day, WRAL reporter Amanda Lamb witnessed a car dragging a woman near the hotel.

"I can see why people feel unsafe," Collins said.

Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said the city has received many complaints about drugs, human trafficking and violence at hotels like the Quality Inn.

"This is something the police chief is really, really focused on and looking at ways that we can mitigate those circumstances," Baldwin said.

The Quality Inn has had 14 inspections since the start of January, according to the city. The hotel has 30 days to fix the issues the city found, and it could reopen.

A sign dated May 9 is posted on the outside of the hotel from city of Raleigh Chief Building Inspector Bryan Robinson.

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