Duval County

‘I just can’t wait to get away’: Long-term residents frustrated with Baymeadows motel

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — America’s Best Inn motel in Baymeadows may be having trouble once again.

Long-term residents of the motel have had enough, saying, “I just can’t wait to get away from this polluted atmosphere.”

RELATED STORY: Police respond to shooting at permanently closed Jacksonville motel

Arnold Theodore lived at the motel for two years. He says while it wasn’t great, for a while, the motel was a happy place. until last month.

“But then I got a little better and I’m like, ‘oh wow (it) is cleaned up.’ It’s been a little quiet, but then you start hearing the shootings in a little kid, and this and that and I’m just like, ‘wow, this ain’t me.’”

Arnold’s final straw was the condemnation from the city.

“When we heard that the first building was getting condemned and everybody had to leave that day, I’m like, ‘are you serious?’”

On Tuesday, he moved out.

In April, Action News Jax told you the city condemned the first building, a 10-year-old girl was injured in a shooting, a man died on a toilet, tenants were given 24 hours to move out, and the owners effectively walked away. But residents didn’t leave.

Ashley Zeno is a single mother of five. She was living in the condemned building. She got help, but after a week, had to come back.

“So, going from Studio 6 we’re back over here now because we have no other options.”

She’s waiting until school ends in a few weeks, until she can find other options. She says she may move her kids to a campground or tent space until she can find better housing.

“But I don’t wanna be homeless with my kids, either. So, it’s like a tornado.”

Since many long-term residents have left, newcomers have taken over rooms. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office says the motel has been a hotbed for crime — in fact, a shooting just last night left a man in the hospital. Ashley Zeno, helped treat his bleeding.

STORY: JSO investigating shooting incident involving father, two children

“I ended up holding his (leg) until the ambulance got here. I put a tourniquet on him.”

Tuesday, the city put up a notice to the owners that the motel is now considered an unsecured building, and they have 15 days to fix it.

“A lot of us families don’t have an option.”

While the people staying at the motel are looking for options, families say they are trying their best.

“There are bad people in this motel. But they’re also good people. And, we are just trying to do the best for our kids.”

The city, nor JSO, has responded to a request for comment on the status of the building and those who live inside.