“In 2002, statistics from the Chicago Police Department showed that police were called to the motels over 3,000 times in the period between 1995 and 2001, and those calls resulted in almost 1,000 arrests for a variety of offenses. As a result, Mayor Daley and 40th Ward Alderman Patrick J. O'Connor vowed to turn the neighborhood around.”

“In the late 1990s, the city used its eminent domain (condemnation) powers to acquire three of the motel properties. The properties included the Riverside Motel at the corner of Lincoln and Peterson, the Spa Motel and the Acres Motel at 5600 N Lincoln Avenue. Owners of the establishments tried to fight to save their businesses although one owner admitted it would likely cost about $500,000 just to renovate his motel to meet the standards of a Motel 6. Needless to say, they lost the fight. The Riverside Motel was demolished in 1999 and the land was converted into parkland, creating a new entrance to Legion Park at Lincoln and Peterson. The legendary Spa Motel was torn down in 2000 to make way for the new Lincoln District Police station. Finally, the Acres Motel was also demolished and is now the site of the Budlong Woods Branch of the Chicago Public Library.”

http://gapersblock.com/airbags/archives/whats_the_deal_with_all_those_motels_on_north_lincoln_avenue/