OYO Hotel Condemned

The City of Bradford has condemned the OYO Hotel.

In an official statement, City Administrator Chris Lucco said “[a]t around 11:00 AM this morning, City officials took necessary steps to condemn the building, affixing placards throughout the premises to inform both management and residents that the building will no longer be inhabitable after November 8, 2023.”

The red condemnation order said that the building had been condemned as “an unlawful structure,” meaning a building that “in whole or in part is occupied by more persons than permitted by this code, or was erected, altered, or occupied contrary to the law.”

When visited this afternoon, WESB News found the building apparently unoccupied with all doors locked and all lights off. No one from the hotel could be reached for comment.

Lucco said that the City has been working with various agencies to identify suitable shelter locations and ensure see to the needs of the residents.

You can read the full statement below.

Following consultations with the City Solicitor and the Director of Building and Health Mike Cleveland, it has been concluded that the OYO Hotel at 153 Main St must be condemned. According to the law, a hotel or rooming house must possess a valid rooming house license and the suspension of this license has rendered the facility an “Unlawful Structure.” Additionally, the presence of multiple outstanding code violations has left the City with no option but to proceed with the condemnation of the hotel.

At around 11:00 AM this morning, City officials took necessary steps to condemn the building, affixing placards throughout the premises to inform both management and residents that the building will no longer be inhabitable after November 8, 2023.

Over the past ten days, the City has been collaborating closely with various agencies to prepare for the potential closure of the hotel. These agencies include, but are not limited to, McKean County Departments, Emergency Management, Health and Human Services, Children and Youth Services, the County Commissioners, McKean County Housing Authority, Office of the Aging, the Guidance Center, Bradford Area Ministerium, the YWCA, the YMCA, and PEMA. The collective objective of these agencies is to identify suitable shelter locations and ensure that the needs of the residents are addressed as comprehensively as possible.

The top priority for all these agencies is to pinpoint suitable shelter locations and establish the necessary staffing, resources and provisions by November 8th. Identifying a location is only the beginning; managing a facility of this magnitude presents significant logistical challenges, including the provision of sleeping arrangements, food services, restroom and bathing facilities and staffing for a population of up to 70 individuals. This task is unprecedented for our agencies and government entities. It will exert a substantial strain on all parties involved. To provide some perspective, catering to 70 individuals in need of immediate emergency shelter is equivalent to the City of Pittsburgh needing to address the immediate needs of approximately 2,600 people.

Mayor Tom Riel just executed a declaration of emergency to facilitate the acquisition of additional resources and assistance in addressing this crisis.

The City remains optimistic that the owner will continue to move forward with the essential repairs to the facility and would urge them to seek a reconsideration once completed before the impending November 8th deadline. The owner has maintained ongoing communication with the City, keeping officials informed of the progress made and the strategies in place to address the situation. It is the hope of the City of Bradford that these efforts can lead to a resolution and potentially avert the need for residents to vacate, pending substantial improvements within the specified timeframe.