NEW ORLEANS — The London Lodge Motel near Hollygrove was shut down by state and local authorities, according to Louisiana Fire Marshal Bryan Adams.
According to Adams, the order was served on Thursday. Residents and guests of the motel in the 9300 block of Airline Highway were given 72 hours to find other accommodations, he said.
London Lodge had a long reputation as a magnet for drugs and prostitution activity.
A spokesperson confirmed that the motel was issued a cease and desist from the State Fire Marshal's Office in conjunction with City Safety & Permits.
Authorities said the cease and desist "centers around improper occupancy as it is approved to be occupied as a hotel/motel as opposed to long-term living (multi-family/apartment) which our inspection found evidence of," in a statement.
The order gave residents three days to vacant the motel with a "hotel/motel occupancy allowance."
There have also been murders at the motel, including one on June 2023, Nola.com reported.
Adams said shutting down London Lodge was a joint operations involving the Fire Marshal's Office, state police and New Orleans authorities.
The marshal's office said there are several other agencies (like safety and permits) that have their own cease and desists that have other stipulations.
This is a developing story. We are working on getting more information.
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