OMAHA, Neb. —

The Omaha City Council unanimously approved a $310,000 contract to demolish a long-vacant hotel in Southwest Omaha.

A demolition order was already on the property, but the city had not found funds to make it happen.

Omaha's Finance Director Steve Curtiss said money came from leftover Keno funds. After any demolition, a lien is placed on the property to help the city recover the funds. Curtiss said they would likely go back into the Keno fund.

The city's demolition fund is $800,000 per year. The large hotel demolition would've used nearly half of that.

At Tuesday's pre-council meeting, an Omaha city attorney told council it is "likely" the owner will attempt to block the demolition in court.

Adam Smith of Newport Blue Impact, the California-based lender that owns the pro

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