The U.S. Marshal's Service has possession of the 128,000 sfhotel. The 3.4 acre property is located at Northwestern Highway andNorthland Road.City Manager Don Gross said the city has offered$5,000 to purchase the hotel, and a $one-million bond to prove itcan afford to demolish the 39-year-old facility.

"The hotel was vacated by Stouffer's 17 years ago. One day, theyjust padlocked the door and told employees they no longer had ajob," Gross says.Since then, the building has deteriorated, andvandals have completely defaced and damaged the inside portion. Thebuilding was turned over to the Marshall's Service in 1999 after aconvicted drug dealer forfeited the property.

The city would have to pay about $20,000 in back taxes for theproperty. Gross said the city estimates the demolition cost wouldrun at about $650,000, which it hopes to offset with a brownfieldgrant from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.