Residents return to Economy Inn

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Residents were allowed back into a Brainerd Road extended stay motel after it was padlocked last week.

On Thursday, workers spent the day taking boards off of the Economy Inn. Residents could get their belongings or move back in.

“Those that wanted to stay were allowed to stay. We are working with them as closely as we can to make sure that if they have a problem at work or whatever, we will get them a letter and to explain to them what happened,” Hixson said.

The extended stay motel was padlocked last week, after the Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office filed a petition to deem the place a public nuisance.

At a hearing on Monday the judge dissolved the restraining order, saying the owner, Janice Hixson, could reopen under certain conditions. Hixson says she is waiting to get her money back from the District Attorney’s Office, so she can refund residents who didn’t get their full stay.

“So we will give the refunds as soon as we can but right now, we are not able to give the refunds that the people deserve. Because if they didn’t stay, they deserve their money back,” Hixson said.

Under the judge’s condition’s she’ll have to make some changes, including adding more lighting and security.

“We are doing the absolute best we can and praying to the good lord above that we will be able to find the money,” she said.

She says she is sorry residents were displaced.

“I want them to know if there was anything I had known about, or anything I could have done, I would have prevented this for them,” Hixson said.

There will be a hearing in June to see the progress the motel has made.