Oak Cliff Motel By School Still Worries Residents

Raquel Eatmon/CBS 11 - Jan 27, 2007

(CBS 11 News) "I've seen a whole lot of corruption over here," long-time resident Jimmie McCutcheon says.

For more than 70 years, the woman has lived in the same house and she says drug dealers and prostitutes have taken over her Oak Cliff neighborhood.

She says it's getting worse. McCutcheon and others blame a motel, which they say is frequented by drug dealers and prostitutes.

"I used to be scared to go to the grocery store and leave my house."

Residents insist the Classic Motel at the 1100 block of Eighth Street is infested with crime.

Some are concerned illegal activity is spilling over into the school yard of one of the top-rated high schools in the country - -Yvonne Ewell Townview Center School.

Dwaine Caraway and Michael Davis are just two of the residents trying to close the motel. Last year, the pair filed a complaint with the City of Dallas. Now, they're trying to raise the $1,000 filing fee to get the job done.

"We're trying to 'up spirit' our community and show the communities that there are greater things we can have," Caraway said.

CBS 11 tried to contact motel owner Yogeshbhai Gandhi. No one at the motel would comment on camera, but the clerk said there are no problems on the property.

Residents call their acts an effort of taking back their neighborhood one block at a time.

"This is not the only one, we have several," Caraway explained.

"Go down Lancaster over by the Urban League ... go down Cedar Crest at Kiest and just pick one and you'll see that those problems exist and they are multiplying all over our community."

McCutcheon is doubtful she'll live to see a change happen. If she had her way, however, the building would be demolished.

"I would like to see a parking lot for the school or else an nursing home for the elderly."

Last year, Caraway and Davis were successful in closing down another motel in South Dallas -- The American Inn.

The duo has planned a community meeting Monday to decide how to raise the funds and outline a plan of action on where to go from here.

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