COLONIE — The owner of the Sycamore Motel on Route 9 was cited for 24 violations including allowing people to live in the hotel for extended periods of time in units that were in “deplorable condition.”
The owner, Suman Patel, is due in court on Thursday, Oct. 17 to answer the citations. In addition to compliance with the existing Town Code and other laws, the town is looking for the maximum fines allowed — between a low of $100 per day and a high of $500 — for each offense.
“People should not live in these conditions. There are no kitchen facilities. The units are equipped solely with small microwave ovens and dormitory refrigerators. The bathrooms are not fit for human use,” Magguilli said.
He said the motel records show residents pay $50 per day, or about $1,500 a month for rent. The Town Code prohibits anyone from living in a dwelling for more than 28 days without the proper occupancy permits.
Magguilli said the investigation, by his office and Colonie police, found some residents living at the motel for more than a year and three residents had listed the motel’s address as their primary residence on their New York state drivers’ licenses.
In addition, there are multiple Building Code violations at the nondescript motel about a half mile north of the intersection of Routes 9 and 9R, that must be addressed.
The town will work with the Red Cross and Albany County to assist anyone living at the motel who was displaced, Magguilli said.