Cathleen Allison/Nevada AppealFrontier Motel residents, from left, Ronnie Hunter, Krystal and Scott Bruce talk Wednesday about the upcoming foreclosure of the motel. Hunter says he's concerned that since no other motels in town will allow his wolf, Loshee, it's possible "I'll be sleeping on the streets."
The possible foreclosure and sale of the Frontier Motel today could force long-term residents to find new homes over the next few weeks.
Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Excel National Bank is planning to sell the 53-room motel, 1718 North Carson St., to pay off a loan taken out by motel owner Hardip Singh.
Many residents at the motel live there, staying longer than the one-month maximum allowed by Carson City code. The code is usually not enforced.
But no one will have to leave immediately if the Frontier does not remain a motel under a new owner, District Attorney Neil Rombardo said.
The new owner would legally have to give residents at least a week to move, Rombardo said, and likely longer than that.
The city would defend the residents in court if the new owner tried to immediately evict them, he said.
Scott Bruce, who has lived at the Frontier more than a month, said finding a new place to live would be difficult with the money he earns from temporary work and odd jobs.
Paying the $550 monthly rent for the room he lives in with his pregnant wife, Krystal, is difficult enough, said Bruce, 31.
"We don't know where we're going to go," he said.
Ronnie Hunter said he might have to live on the street if he has to leave the Frontier.
No other motels will allow him to stay with his pet wolf, Loshee, he said.
"We're screwed," he said. "We're screwed."
George Maness said he'll have to find a new job other than the managing work he did for most of the six years if he has to leave.
The move will be difficult, he said, but he doesn't blame the owner for what happened.
"It's simply that business has been terrible," Maness said.
Some residents said they are worried NV Energy will turn off the electricity this week.
NV Energy cannot say if this will happen, according to company representative Fay Anderson, because account information is private.
Singh could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Phone calls to the motel were not answered and the office and the onsite convenience store were locked.
Excel National Bank could not be reached for comment.
Singh bought the 20,800-square-foot Frontier Motel in 2006. It was built in 1949.
The foreclosure auction starts at 2 p.m. today at the Carson City Courthouse, 885 E. Musser St.
Another Carson City motel, the Downtowner Motor Inn, is scheduled to be foreclosed and sold at an auction Jan. 8.
- Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.