591 Police Calls: Fort Worth's Central Motel Demolished
The property on East Lancaster Road was torn down after police logged hundreds of incidents, including murders and arson, since 2024.
By Petra Murphy ·
The Central Motel on East Lancaster Road in Fort Worth was demolished on Wednesday, October 28, after police responded to the site 591 times since 2024. The structure, which had become a focal point for local crime, was removed by its owner following a targeted initiative by the city to clear problem properties from residential areas.
Fort Worth officials identified the motel through the Nuisance Enforcement Task Force, a program designed to pursue legal action against businesses that drain resources and generate high incident rates. Records show the property saw 80 narcotics cases, multiple weapons offenses, and incidents of aggravated assault and prostitution. In 2025 alone, a murder and an arson incident occurred on the premises.
A Code Compliance inspection found 123 violations across the building's 22 rooms, citing substandard conditions and safety risks. Donna Nickerson, a business owner near the site, described the location as a hub for drug activity and violent crime. The demolition marks the end of a legal battle that began in July, when the city sued owner Haribhai Patel. The lawsuit was dropped once Patel agreed to remove the building at his own expense.
City officials framed the action as a matter of accountability. Oscar Reyes, the Code Compliance Superintendent, stated that the city expects owners to lead on repairs, but the department will use all available tools, including forced demolition, if they do not. Residents watched the work closely, with Pastor Vernon Elisher turning his car around to watch the building fall and clapping as it collapsed.
The NET Force team has already identified six additional properties for similar action. The goal is to address locations that have remained persistent concerns for neighbors. While the building is gone, Patel retains ownership of the land. It remains unclear what will happen on the site going forward.
The removal of the Central Motel stands as the latest step in a municipal effort to shift the burden of maintenance and repair from public services to private owners. The process combined legal pressure with physical enforcement to resolve a long-standing dispute over a dilapidated building.
