JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The owners of Hotel O said they they plan to take the City of Jackson to court following the city’s decision to demolish the building. However, city leaders said the hotel must go.

“Tear that s— down, like yesterday,” said Councilman Kenneth Stokes, Ward 3.

The father of Noah Muthana, who is the property owner of Hotel O in Jackson, appeared before the Jackson City Council on Tuesday on behalf of his son.

“Look, let’s talk about a chance that… Listen, I’m going to I’m going to say this, please. And, you know, in the federal court, there are a lot of people that make mistakes, and we see them. So, I’m trying to just look to the future,” said Ali Muthana, the father of the hotel’s owner.

Muthana expressed his frustration about the grueling process.

“Thirty days on the 24. We were given 30 days to just clean it up and board it up, and we did. So now, they’re, you know, they’re going back on their word,” he said.

Councilman Vernon Hartley, Ward 5, shot back saying the eyesore along the Interstate 55 corridor is a public health concern and violates code enforcements.

“We have a problem here in the City of Jackson regarding folks who come in with businesses that don’t live in the community and don’t care about the community. So, what we do is we have this process that we go through and our process, I’ll stand behind it,” Hartley said.

Muthana’s son was not present during Tuesday’s meeting due to the fear of being arrested again. He said their goal was to sell the property.

“Where was he six months ago? And then we understand the game they’re playing this day. You boarding it up, but they come in from the outside, and now the police can’t see what’s going on inside. So, it’s not like you cleaning up and boarded up, and they’re gone forever,” said Stokes.

The City of Jackson has not given a timeline as to when the demolition will begin.

“I will be the one to throw the wrecking ball into that building. It is coming down,” said Councilman Brian Grizzell, Ward 4.

Muthana said he intends to see the city in court after spending $70,000 to board up the facility only to see it demolished.