Storyland Motel's Final Chapter? | ABC30 Fresno

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By ABC30

Friday, September 11, 2009

Fresno, CA Trash, personal belongings left behind and weeds as tall as people, have turned /*Storyland*/ into a wasteland. Esko Siipola, a city Outreach Coordinator said, "There's no progress here whatsoever. There's been no permits pulled."

City officials said the owner /*Guilio Guarnaschelli*/, hasn't made a loan payment in six months and hasn't paid his property taxes in six years. This PG&E bill says he owes the power company more than $20,000. Guilio had two options, make repairs or demolish the complex. Officers say he hasn't done either so they fined him $10,000.

Siipola said, "They get to a point and they look at the feasibility of rehabbing the project, the cost here would be significant so, more than likely they get to a point where they don't feel it's a financial investment to hang on to."

When Action News called Guilio in L.A. to find out his plans he hung on up us. The 68 year old Fresno man who sold him the motel years ago told us it went into foreclosure Thursday. Lacy said, "So if it goes to auction in 20 days, in 30 days realistically we could see something happen."

The clock is ticking for Guilio and for the city of Fresno. Some are still hopeful this story's chapter will have a happy ending. Lacy said, "Our greatest goal is to occupy this property however the conditions need to be approved to whoever is living here."