‘Extremely Concerning’: Brooklyn Center Council Revokes Hotel’s License
Travelers will find fewer places to stay in Brooklyn Center after the city council revoked the license for a hotel that was also operating a medical clinic.
Suburban Studios by Choice Hotels, an extended stay hotel located at 2701 Freeway Blvd, had its hospitality accommodation license revoked on Monday, June 23.
“The fact of the matter is that you did not follow proper procedures set by Brooklyn Center for code,” said Council Member Laurie Ann Moore. “It is a red flag and extremely concerning that you are providing these services.”
The council voted 4-1 to revoke the license, with Mayor April Graves casting the lone dissenting vote.
Hotel Offered Recuperative Medical Facility
Brooklyn Center city staff members say they visited the Suburban Studios hotel on June 2 for a routine fire alarm call.
Upon arriving, they found full-time medical staff on-site operating a business called Care Chexx Recuperative Care Facility.
In this instance, a recuperative care facility offers temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness who recently underwent surgery.
“It is designed for those who may be homeless, who may be sleeping under a bridge,” said Care Chexx co-founder Keith Lattimore. “Obviously it’s tough in those elements, might not be conducive to the person fully healing.”
These patients stay at the facility for a set period of time while social workers connect them with a more permanent place to live. Their stays are reimbursed by the state of Minnesota.
Hotel officials said that only a portion of the rooms in the building are rented to these patients.
Likewise, an attorney representing the owners said they were offering enhanced services as part of hotel operations.
“You’ve heard that the primary use of the property is and remains a hotel,” said Bryan Huntington, an attorney with Larkin Hoffman. “There has been no change in land use here. Since its inception, the hotel has offered service and amenities beyond just a place to sleep.”
Suburban Studios by Choice Hotels, an extended stay hotel located at 2701 Freeway Blvd, had its hospitality accommodation license revoked on Monday, June 23.
Council Revokes License
City officials say the hotel’s owner didn’t check to see if its medical operation conformed to city code and zoning laws.
Meanwhile, the owners said they were in the process of applying for a permit.
Ultimately, the council decided to revoke the hospitality license for the owner and call for medical operations to end within 21 days.
“It’s clear, according to legal counsel which I don’t want to go against, it was given to us that the recuperative care facility is in violation of the [planned unit development] and the zoning code,” said Council Member Dan Jerzak. “So that alone would get my vote to revoke the license.”
See also: Brooklyn Center Council Votes To Suspend Hotel’s License
