On Friday, April 9, 2021, the Grand Forks Building Inspections Department in collaboration with the Grand Forks Fire Department, Grand Forks Public Health, and the Grand Forks Police Department notified the Ambassador Motel, 2021 S. Washington St. that the building has been deemed unsafe to occupy and ordered all occupants to vacate.
On March 11, 2021, the Grand Forks Police Department received a complaint regarding ADA compliance at the Ambassador Hotel. The Police Department forwarded the complaint to the Grand Forks Inspections Department. The Inspections Department consulted with the Grand Forks Fire Department and Public Health Department. When responding to the ADA complaint, other building violations were observed. It was determined a more thorough inspection was needed at the property. On March 31, 2021, the Inspections Department, Fire Department, and Public Health Department conducted an inspection of the entire property including all rooms with permission of the trustee of the property.
Following the inspection, the Ambassador Motel was determined to be a structure that poses an imminent danger to the life, health, property, and safety of the public or its occupants and in turn has been found to be a dangerous building or structure pursuant to Grand Forks City Code § 19-0704. As such, the Ambassador Motel is deemed to be in violation of Grand Forks City Code Chapter 19, Article 7 Dangerous Buildings and is hereby declared a nuisance, subject to summary abatement under Grand Forks City Code § 19-0703 and § 19-0704(3). Such summary abatement authorizes removal, demolition, or other acts by the City without notice to the property owner, agent, or occupant. City Code § 19-0704(3).
Additionally, the exact operation of the Ambassador Motel is unclear. As a result, the Ambassador Motel is found to be in further violation of several Grand Forks City Code ordinances.
If the Ambassador Motel is operating as a hotel/motel, they currently do not have the required licenses to do so. If they are not operating as a hotel/motel, they are then in violation of city code requiring a certificate of occupancy to lease rooms.
Understanding the inconvenience to the occupants of the Ambassador Motel, the City is working with Northlands Rescue Mission to help facilitate services and provide assistance to those that require it.
