CITY AGAIN TRIES TO BUY HOTELS HOUSING 'UNSAVORY CHARACTERS'.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Lancaster is trying to acquire two low-income hotels city officials say are concerns for law enforcement and for potential investors in the city's downtown.

Lancaster is looking to acquire the Lancaster Lodge Hotel, 44820 Date Ave., and the Dunes Motor Hotel, 521 W. Jackman Ave. The city has set aside $1.5 million for the acquisition.

Lancaster is negotiating with the owner of the Lancaster Lodge but has not yet started discussions with the owner of the Dunes.

``This is going to be a long process - nothing is going to happen overnight,'' said City Manager Jim Gilley. ``The housing needs of the existing residents have to be addressed.''

Gilley said the city wanted the properties because there is a history of law enforcement problems involving residents of the hotels. Gilley referred to them as ``places of residence for unsavory characters.''

City officials said they have not finalized plans for the hotels and could not comment on what will be done with the properties.

Attempts to reach the owner of the Lancaster Lodge were unsuccessful.

The manager of the Dunes said they had not heard from city officials about what their plans are and could not comment.

Among the law enforcement problems was a March 1990 slaying of a homeless man by three residents of the Lancaster Lodge. The victim was shot, stabbed and then run over by a car in what law enforcement called a drug deal gone bad.

Lancaster has tried to acquire the hotels over the past 10 to 15 years, most recently in 1995, but the city was not able to reach agreements with the owners.

The 1995 effort was spurred comments from potential investors in Lancaster's downtown over the effect the hotels had on crime and property values.