The Quality Inn located on Northeast 82nd Avenue in Portland has put up a “hotel closed” sign and installed a complex lock on its front door following a series of deadly shootings and other criminal incidents. The area surrounding the hotel has also been associated with alleged human trafficking activities.
The abrupt closure of the hotel has left many long-term residents in a precarious situation. Many individuals rely on affordable housing options like hotels, and being forced to leave quickly can disrupt lives, lead to homelessness, or create significant stress as they search for new accommodations.
Long-term guests are now reporting that they are being evicted without any explanation. In early January, News Reporter Ariel Iacobazzi visited the hotel and observed parking lots filled with vehicles, trash, and trailers. However, upon returning now, the hotel resembles a ghost town, with many long-term residents packing their belongings into bags and cars as they scramble to find new accommodations after receiving short notice to vacate.
The closure of the hotel may elicit varied reactions from the community. Some residents may welcome the closure as a necessary step toward improving safety, while others may be concerned about where displaced individuals will go and the potential for increased homelessness in the area. Now closed, questions arise about the future of the property. Potential redevelopment, management changes, or community initiatives could play a role in reshaping the space and addressing the underlying issues that contributed to its decline.
On Friday, the Portland Police announced that they discovered and confiscated 10 bags of marijuana from the premises. Despite the police’s involvement, neither state, county, nor city law enforcement officers were seen at the hotel by onlookers and media. Instead, a private security firm, Metro Protection Security, was present on-site.
