FULTON – A property that once housed the Holly Drive Motel has become one of Fulton’s most debated parcels of land. Located at 901 Holly Drive, the 1.11-acre site has a long and complicated history, involving zoning battles, community opposition, and repeated attempts to repurpose the land.
From Motel to Abandoned Property
For decades, the address was home to the Holly Drive Motel, a small lodging facility along Route 3. In September 2011, businessman Vinod Mariwalla purchased the property for about $48,000 at an auction that included back taxes and fees. Mariwalla invested more than $70,000 into repairs with hopes of giving the property new life.
Those plans, however, were stalled almost immediately by zoning restrictions. Mariwalla believed the land was zoned for multi-unit residential use and proposed turning the old motel into a 12-unit senior housing complex. Fulton officials later confirmed the zoning was R-1, which only allows single-family homes.
After heated discussions with neighbors who raised concerns about safety and traffic, the Fulton Common Council unanimously voted down Mariwalla’s rezoning request in a 6-0 decision.
Vacancy and Police Activity
The motel never reopened. Over the following years, the building fell into disrepair and was boarded up. The vacant structure became a target for trespassing and criminal activity.
In early 2020, Fulton police responded to multiple incidents at the site. On January 29, 2020, officers arrested a person inside the abandoned building for trespassing with a child, leading to charges of endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree criminal trespass. Additional arrests followed for unauthorized entry.
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