The demolition of the former OYO Hotel, located at 515 East Commerce, will soon commence. On Thursday, crews were in the process of removing beds, furniture and other materials from rooms.
Squirrels’ Real Estate LLC purchased the property on Sept. 6, 2022 and after a 180-day wait, plans to redevelop the property are underway. Details on what will be located at the property in the future have not been released, but the demolition process is expected to last approximately a week.
The OYO Hotel was closed on Aug. 27, 2021 after receiving numerous citations of violation by the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department.
An inspection of the facility at the time found:
- 60 rooms with building code violations
- 52 rooms with cockroaches
- 47 rooms with Fire Code violations
- 45 rooms with bed bugs
- 28 rooms with mold
- 13 rooms with mice or rats
Citations were also issued for unsecured rooms, excessive vegetation, and illegal dumping.
Hotel owner Thomas Ung was originally assessed a fine of $4,400 by the City and after non-payment, the building was eventually sold on the steps of the Brown County Courthouse.
On Dec. 29, 2022, two women were charged with stealing copper wiring from the vacant hotel.
Then, on Jan. 25 of this year, a fire at the former hotel resulted damages estimated at $75,000.
