The owner of the Aztec Hotel in Monrovia, Calif., failed in efforts to persuade a bankruptcy judge to remove a receivership company, thus making it more likely the historic and architecturally unique hotel will be sold, according to the Pasadena Star-News.
“I’m not inclined to put the debtor back in possession of this property,” judge Ellen Carroll said during the hearing. “The debtor’s tendency is to make a lot of excuses why things aren’t going well.”
Owner Kathie Reece-McNeill is defending a default notification by lender Tomato Bank, which claims she is more than $100,000 behind in payments. A receivership company appointed by state court, Horwath HTL, has managed the Aztec Hotel and attached Mayan Bar and Grill since late January.
Reece-McNeill and Horwath CEO Joel Hiser have each claimed the other has mismanaged the hotel in court filings.
Reece-McNeill said she fears the hotel will be razed for redevelopment under another owner. According to both parties in the lawsuit, the hotel’s roof needs replacing.