JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The mayor of Jackson announced testing is needed for the roof of Hotel O before the demolition process can begin.

Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba said the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) requested asbestos testing for the roof of the building. This must occur before the city can move forward with their plans to demolish Hotel O.

“Once that sampling is done, and depending on what those samples reveal, then we can move to the next steps of its demolition. There is an abatement process if there is asbestos that exists. If not, then it makes it a little quicker for us to do it. But we are moving forward on this,” Lumumba said.

The eyesore off of I-55 has caused problems for several nearby businesses and residents. From drugs to other illegal activities, Jackson police said the hotel has become a hot spot for crime.

The owner of the hotel, Noah Muthana, has been fighting the demolition, despite a judge issuing an arrest warrant for him earlier this year.