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Social Services Relocating Occupants Of Foreclosed Hotel

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 3, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Firefighters and social workers scrambled today to relocate the last occupants of a hotel where the electricity was turned off because of an unpaid bill of $45,000.

The power at the JMS Hotel, 4601 34th St. S., was turned off a week ago today, said Lt. Joel Granata, spokesman for St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue.

Firefighters started keeping watch Monday because occupants were using candles for light, Granata said. The occupants were given battery-powered smoke detectors.

The water bill had not been paid either, but on Monday the fire department persuaded the city not to shut off water service, he said.

On Tuesday night, there were 53 people living in the 120-unit hotel, Granata said. This morning, there were 16 people from three families. City social service worker Rhonda Abbott has secured money to help them move, Granata said.

One family has been given money to move to Rhode Island. One family is being moved across the street to the Crystal Inn. The third family is being moved to a Metropolitan Ministries shelter in Tampa, Granata said.

The JMS Hotel is being foreclosed on, Granata said. The owner has filed a court action to stop the foreclosure, and that action is expected to allow a new owner to take charge of the property, Granata said.

The new owner is preparing to change the locks on the hotel this afternoon, Granata said.

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