Town of Unicoi concerned about former Budget Inn building transformation
UNICOI, Tenn. (WJHL) – In December of 2024, the former Budget Inn building was purchased to create temporary housing for survivors of Hurricane Helene. However, town leadership said they have concerns about the project.
Since its purchase, Mayor Kevin McInturff has worked alongside Melanie Klump, CEO and director of Buffalo Disaster Relief, which purchased the property. According to McInturff, things had been squared away early into their discussions.
'We had a long conversation,' McInturff said. 'Had a good meeting, and everybody left with a good mindset on it.'
But McInturff said the building's condition isn't where they hoped it would be.
'[Klump] had her artwork of what it was going to look like when it was finished,' he said. 'But the people that live [on that road], they look at it every day. It needs to be resolved in some manner.'
According to McInturff, the steps needed to move forward haven't been taken yet.
'Like the building inspector said, as long as the proper steps are taken, you can move on with it,' McInturff said. 'But we haven't seen it yet.'
Community Heroes: Buffalo Disaster Relief flipping former motel to house flood victims
McInturff stressed that he fully supports the end goal for the building but just wants to see it restored soon.
'We all remember what a beautiful place it used to be out there,' McInturff said. 'And we need to move on with it.'
News Channel 11 reached out to Klump for a comment. That statement can be found below:
'At this time, we are unable to provide a comment. We have been actively working through the appropriate governmental channels and pursuing legal avenues to expedite the process. Any concerns from the mayor's office should be directed to his staff, as we have adhered to the guidelines set forth by local authorities.
Any delays have been the result of local government procedures, rather than any actions on our part. Our primary goal remains securing the necessary support to transition the victims of Helene from temporary shelters into sustainable housing—a matter that should be a top priority for the mayor and local leadership.'
Melanie Klump, CEO and director of Buffalo Disaster Relief
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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