WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Wayside reopens Hotel Louisville site as hotel

Wayside reopens Hotel Louisville site as hotel

By Marisela Burgos - bio | email
Posted by Charles Gazaway - email

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) – The Hotel Louisville building is once again open for business. Its first guests moved into rooms late Wednesday after the new owners, Wayside Christian Mission, decided, for now, to use the building as a hotel until they get the green light to operate as a homeless shelter.

On its first night of business, about 30 single women and 50 families checked into Hotel Louisville building. The guests, who came from Wayside's women and family shelter on Market Street, are paying a penny per night to stay at the hotel. 

Wayside Director Nina Moseley says guests can stay in their "economy rooms" up to 30 nights. After the 30th night, they have to check out, but are able to check back in the next day. According to Moseley, the guests are people that are transitioning out of the shelter.

Last week, Metro's Planning and Design Services department told Wayside it could not use the building as a shelter until zoning for homeless shelters is figured out. Moseley says they are not in violation because they are not operating a homeless shelter. 

"Homeless people check into hotels all the time and there's absolutely no way we can deny them the right to check into a hotel," Moseley said. 

Wayside is providing its guests with the money needed to pay for the rooms. 

"We want to make sure no one is denied a night because they don't have a penny," Moseley said.

Accompanied by her four kids, Anita was the hotel's first guest. 

"It's been a long time coming and now I'm happy my kids are happy everything is great. I'm just so glad to be here," Anita said.

Anita is transitioning out of the shelter and said she is happy she can stay at Hotel Louisville for an affordable price. 

"[I'm] trying to find a place and getting the kids adjusted, but hopefully everything will be a lot better for us now," said Anita.

Moseley said she is glad they are getting families off the streets. 

"I'm sure no matter where we go, no matter what we do, there are people out there who want to keep homeless people out in the cold," Moseley said. "And I'm sure they'll say things. However, they can't say anything about opening a hotel."

The move by Wayside came as a surprise to members of the Metro Council. 

"The higher road would be for Wayside to wait for a community process to determine the appropriate place for an emergency or transitional shelter," said Councilman Tom Owen (D-District 8.) "It seems to me they are jumping the gun."

"Regulatory agencies will have to evaluate whether it's in compliance or not," said Bill Patteson, a spokesman for the Jefferson County Attorney's office.

The Department of Codes and Regulations confirmed that Wayside cannot be penalized for using the site as a hotel.

Moseley says Hotel Louisville is open to the public as well, with rooms priced around $120 per night. Those rooms will be on a separate floor from the economy rooms.

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