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Crime-ridden Fort Worth motel torn down
A Fort Worth motel well-known for illicit activities was torn down by its owner after the city threatened legal action. FOX 4's Dionne Anglin has more.
FORT WORTH, Texas - A Fort Worth motel well known for criminal activity has been demolished by its owner after the city targeted it as part of an initiative to take down problem properties.
Central Motel demolished
What we know:
On Wednesday, October 28, the Central Motel on East Lancaster Road in Fort Worth was demolished.
The owners of the building worked with Fort Worth officials on the plan to demolish the motel, and paid for the demolition themselves.
FOX 4 saw multiple Fort Worth residents slowing down as they drove by to watch the demolition. One was seen clapping as the building was torn down.
"When I passed by and seen it, I had to turn around because I want to thank the person who made this happen," said Pastor Vernon Elisher, who witnessed the demolition.
Dig deeper:
The Central Motel's demolition comes after Fort Worth began targeting problem properties in the city through its Nuisance Enforcement Task (NET) Force.
NET Force identifies crime-ridden, resource-draining properties and businesses in the city and pursues legal action to shut them down.
Police have responded to the Central Motel 591 times since 2024, including murder and arson in 2025, 80 narcotics cases, multiple weapons offenses, aggravated assaults, prostitution offenses and more.
A Code Compliance inspection revealed 123 code violations in its 22 rooms, and noted substandard building conditions and safety concerns.
"There were multiple murders here, lots of drug activity, people committing a lot of crimes," says Donna Nickerson, who owns a business near where the Central Motel once stood.
Fort Worth sued the building's owner, Haribhai Patel, in July, and dropped the lawsuit as a result of the owner demolishing the Central Motel.
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PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Fort Worth officials target crime-ridden motel in lawsuit
The City of Fort Worth has filed a lawsuit against a motel said to be a hotbed for crime, and says it is still trying to serve the building's owner with that litigation. FOX 4's Dionne Anglin has more.
What they're saying:
"We want them to be accountable, we want them to take the lead on this, but if they don’t, then we’ll come in and use all the tools that are afforded to us and choose demolition if we need to," says Oscar Reyes, Code Compliance Superintendent for the City of Fort Worth.
What's next:
NET Force says it has identified six more problem properties it plans on targeting in an effort to "improve neighborhoods and address properties that have remained persistent concerns for residents."
Patel still owns the land where the Central Motel once stood. It remains unclear what will happen on the property going forward.
The Source: Information in this story comes from the City of Fort Worth and previous FOX 4 coverage.