PORT ANGELES — The owners of the Chinook Motel say they will not appeal the state Department of Health’s decision to condemn the motel.
Instead, they have shuttered the 61-year-old landmark at the corner of First and Ennis streets for good.
The postwar motel was once advertised as “the Olympics’ finest,” but it has fallen into disrepair.
The motel’s owners, William and Awatef Younan, cited lack of money as a reason for not appealing the Health Department’s decision.
“It’s closed,” William Younan said.
“It’s for sale.
“We don’t have money to appeal.”
June 17 inspection
Sue Roberds, Port Angeles city planning manager, said she was aware of complaints about the motel prior to a June 17 inspection by the state Health Department and her department, but none of the complaints was specific enough to merit an inspection.
“The complaint which prompted this wasn’t made to us, it was made to the state Department of Health,” Roberds said.
“It can’t just be a vague complaint — there has to be a specific, significant thing for us to be able to go in there.”
“When they called and said they were making a trip over here — which is a little unusual — I assumed that the complaints were pretty significant and asked if we would like to participate in the inspection.”
Mystery complaint?
She said she wasn’t sure what the complaint was or what the state’s report contained as basis for the condemnation.
The state’s report has not yet been released.
“We do believe there is a significant concern,” she said.
William Younan, who is in his 60s, said last month he purchased the motel about 12 years ago and has been trying to sell it for the past 11 years because of his medical bills.
The two eastern lots of the hotel’s three lots are listed for $544,000 jointly, said Tilly Mollenkramer, listing agent for Carroll Realty of Port Angeles.
She said she and Younan had not yet decided how much to list the entire motel property for.
“He is very interested in selling the entire thing,” she said.
“I’m just waiting to see what kind of offers we could get in.
“We have had a few phone calls but no really serious inquiries yet.”
2007 price
In 2007, the property was listed for sale for $994,000 by Coldwell Banker Uptown Realty in Port Angeles.
Although the couple have until July 26 to appeal the condemnation, Younan said he hopes it will sell, and he thinks the complaints were exaggerated.
Younan said he believed the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce was responsible for having the hotel shut down.
“The Chamber of Commerce didn’t want me to have any business because I don’t pay to be part of the chamber,” Younan said.
“I haven’t heard any of these complaints before.”
Russ Veenema, Port Angeles chamber executive director, acknowledged he had sent complaints to the city of Port Angeles and the state Health Department.
“We did play a role in that,” Veenema said.
“We have an unofficial duty to act as a better business bureau, and we were consistent with that on how we handled the complaints we had received.
“It was beyond just minor complaints there were issues of health and safety, so we thought we needed to take it to the proper authorities.”
License pulled
The state also pulled the operating license of the 53-room motel at 1414 E. First St., which once was part of the Best Western chain and was prized a half-century ago for its outdoor swimming pool.
The city’s report addresses only building code violations, which incorporates some health-related items.
A few examples of the violations were:
•Rodent droppings, dead bedbugs and signs of live bugs.
•Extensive water damage to a wall, which was covered by carpet that was nailed to it.
•Mold and other water damage.
•Broken exhaust and ventilation fans.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladaily news.com.
