Graffiti artist fed up with taxpayers footing the bill at old Motel 6. So is the city

Wendy Culverwell March 6, 2024 at 8:00 AM Bob Brawdy/bbrawdy@tricityherald.com The city of Kennewick is considering demolishing a former Motel 6 as the cost of dealing with illegal trespassing at the empty building mounts. The city paid Columbia Construction Services $16,250 in January to board up the 100-room motel off Highway 395 near Dairy Queen. The city took the action after Fortify Holdings, the motel’s Portland-area owner, missed a Dec. 12 deadline to secure the premises. Evelyn Lusignan, the city’s spokeswoman, told the Herald that boarding up the building helped curtail issues. However, the city continues to deal with additional damage as intruders attempt to break into the property at 2811 W. Sixth Ave. The Kennewick Police Department and code enforcement officers are frequent visitors. And the city continues to advise the owners of ongoing issues. Fortify paid $5.85 million for the property in March 2022. It dropped the Motel 6 brand and recast it as seasonal housing for farmworkers. Former guest rooms were equipped with bunkbeds and residents could be seen gathering at the site last summer. It is not clear why the property is no longer occupied or maintained or fortified against trespassers. ‘Potential legal actions’ To date,...