Cleanup of the former Ambassador Hotel property at 1616 W. Crawford Street has concluded, ending a prolonged demolition and debris-removal process that required Salina to approve a $782,411 contract to finish the work. The cleared site leaves separate questions about redevelopment, unpaid property taxes and recovery of the city’s expenses.

County records show $7,674.43 of the property’s 2025 tax bill remains unpaid. City ordinances also document $7,331.22 in nuisance-abatement assessments across 2025 and 2026. Those assessments are separate from the demolition contract and should not be added together as a confirmed outstanding debt. Final contractor payments and reimbursement records are needed to establish the city’s unrecovered cleanup expense.

How the City Took Over

The approximately 6.2-acre commercial property is owned by Andrea Investments LLC, represented by Joshua Joseph. County records identify it as Tax ID 04700, with a Dallas mailing address for the owner.

Commissioners declared the property unsafe and dangerous in July 2024 and established deadlines for repair or demolition. Salina311 reported that October that Joseph proposed redevelopment but failed to provide an acceptable financing commitment by the commission’s deadline. On Oct. 28, commissioners directed demolition and recovery of the costs, while allowing the owner to perform the work himself.

Owner-managed demolition began in November 2024. Another contractor was hired in June 2025, but city records say activity stopped and equipment was removed that July. In December, commissioners rejected a request to reduce landfill disposal fees from $96 to $48 per ton. Salina311 reported that officials said public funds had not yet been spent on demolition itself, although enforcement and administrative costs had been incurred.

The city moved to finish the remaining work in March 2026, leading to the cleanup contract approved that June.

The $782,411 Contract

Salina311’s June 1 coverage documented approval of the Diehl Enterprises contract following public questions about the company’s previous involvement with demolition material from the site. The city’s accompanying staff report identified the contract amount as $782,411 and stated that Salina would initially pay the expenses.

Four bids were received. Lazy H Fencing and Dirt Work submitted the lowest price, $325,480, but staff determined it did not include anticipated disposal costs at a licensed facility. The company requested withdrawal after discussing its proposal with staff. Diehl’s bid was the lowest remaining, followed by T&R Construction at $987,000 and Remco Demolition at $1.8 million.

The bid documents described a lump-sum project covering demolition, debris removal, filling and grading. They required bidders to account for the estimated value of salvageable materials, which would become the contractor’s property. Earlier landfill-fee estimates therefore should not automatically be added to the contract as separate city expenditures.

Disposal remained a subject of public questions during the project. In August, the city clarified that the agreement required compliance with state and federal rules rather than requiring every piece of material to go to the Salina landfill. It reported that KDHE had confirmed removal of mixed waste and authorized salvage of remaining rubble.

Unpaid Taxes and Existing Assessments

The property’s 2025 tax bill totaled $15,348.87. County Treasurer records show $7,674.44 paid, leaving $7,674.43 unpaid and flagged delinquent. Accrued interest can make the current payoff amount higher.

The 2022 record retains a delinquency flag despite showing full payment. That flag alone does not establish an outstanding balance.

City ordinances assessed three nuisance-abatement charges totaling $5,450.97 in August 2025 and three more totaling $1,880.25 in August 2026. Both direct collection through the county tax roll. The ordinances do not describe the specific work behind each charge or establish whether those assessments remain unpaid.

The 2025 assessments closely match the approximately $5,451 difference between the regular property-tax calculation and the total bill. The 2024 bill similarly includes approximately $11,629 beyond the calculated regular levy, but an itemized county statement is needed to identify those charges.

Recovering the Cleanup Expense

The city’s stated recovery process requires the owner to pay abatement expenses and administrative fees within 30 days of invoicing. Unpaid charges would be certified to the county and placed on the property tax rolls. Staff also identified a possible district-court action to collect the debt.

Completion of the cleanup does not establish that the owner has reimbursed Salina. The available tax history does not identify an assessment corresponding to the $782,411 contract, and the 2026 tax bill had not yet been issued when the records were reviewed. Final payment records, any adjustments, the owner’s invoice and certification documents are needed to determine the remaining public expense.

The property does not appear on the list for Saline County’s 2026 tax-foreclosure case, 2026-CV-32. An older list for case 2019-CV-35 marks it “Redeemed” in a December 2020 update. That historical document requires county confirmation and does not establish a current foreclosure.

What Comes Next for the Property?

The county’s 2026 appraisal values the property at $274,450, including $247,520 in land and $26,930 in remaining improvements. Its 2025 value was $283,900, compared with approximately $800,000 in 2020–21. Tax appraisals do not establish what the property would bring in a sale.

The owner’s redevelopment proposal described in December 2025 city records contemplated a phased commercial project beginning with a one-story retail building. It remained conceptual, with no construction schedule established in those materials.

The cleanup has removed the abandoned structure and debris. Redevelopment of the cleared site and recovery of the money Salina committed to the work remain unresolved.