Renting a room by the hour may soon be illegal under a bill being considered by the Metro City Council. A bill, introduced by Donelson-area councilman Jeff Syracuse, would ban any hotels from offering rooms for less than 10 hours.
Syracuse said it's an effort to crack down on crime like prostitution and drug use.
"If you look at the crime records of these properties, the statistics are much higher than other hotels and motels," Syracuse said. "In a nutshell, these places are probably costing taxpayers more dollars than other hotels and motels."
Syracuse has identified 17 properties advertising hourly room rates in Nashville, including the Airways Motel on Lebanon Pike, which he passes every day on his way to work.
"I have had a lot of complaints from neighbors and people who drive past it and notice suspicious activity," Syracuse said.
He also noted that a property next to the Airways Motel has been for sale for years, but hasn't sold.
"You're not going to get a reputable business that wants to move next to an establishment like that," Syracuse said. "So one of the aspects of this that I see is encouraging positive economic development around these properties."
Of the 17 motels identified by Syracuse, most are along Dickerson Pike and Murfreesboro Road.
He said his goal is not to force the businesses to close, but rather to clean up the properties.
"We have issues right now with the cost of hotels and motels in the county," he said. "I think this gives those owners a chance to perhaps clean up, re-brand, and offer families an opportunity to come visit at a reasonable cost."
The ordinance will be considered for a second reading on June 20.
Motels that have been identified by Metro as properties offering hourly rates:
- Main Street Inn - 313 S. Main Street
- Nashboro Motel - 1231 Dickerson Pike
- Madison Motel - 625 Gallatin Pike
- Hickory House Hotel - 412 Old Hickory Blvd.
- Madison Square Inn - 118 Emmitt Ave.
- Inglewood Motel - 4008 Gallatin Pike
- Key Motel - 1414 Dickerson Pike
- Villa Inn - 1404 Dickerson Pike
- Savoy Motel - 1415 Dickerson Pike
- Stadium Inn - 10 Interstate Drive
- Airways Motel - 925 Lebanon Pike
- Lee Motel - 426 Murfreesboro Pike
- Midway Motel - 741 Murfreesboro Pike
- Hickerson Motel Ct. - 2514 Nolensville Pike
- Regency Inn Express - 3283 McGavock Pike
- Budget Inn - 2722 Murfreesboro Pike
- Travelers Ct. Inc. - 2622 Murfreesboro Pike
