LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) – The owner of a troubled hotel in Lafayette could be forced to sell the property to make way for a police substation under a measure introduced at Tuesday’s City-Parish Council meeting.

City-Parish President Joey Durel’s administration began talks last year about possibly buying the Lesspay motel, knocking it down, then building a substation and public plaza in its place to bring new life to the area.

The Advocate reports (http://bit.ly/1wUfH8G) the council introduced a measure Tuesday to declare the project a “public necessity,” which opens the door for negotiations to buy the property either through a voluntary deal or a forced sale under the expropriation process.

A final vote is set for Jan. 20.