The Carlton Motel has received a stay of execution, at least for now.

North Huntingdon Commissioners last month announced their intent to demolish the structure. The closed motel, which sits at the corner of Gregg Drive and Pennsyl-vania Avenue adjacent to the Irwin interchange on the turnpike, has accrued a list of complaints and code violations stretching back five years.

Commissioners cited a number of problems with the structure, including trash and abandoned cars on the property. An old swimming pool also is filled with stagnant water, creating a public health hazard.

Township records indicate that since January of 2003 the motel has been cited five times for property maintenance violations, including a citation issued this winter for excessive trash buildup around the building.

At a public hearing on the proposed demolition last week, owner Gary Monsour of Loxahatchee, Fla., asked the township for a delay in the proposed demolition. Through his attorney, Dan Beisler of Pittsburgh, Monsour indicated he wished to have an engineer look at the property and see if it was possible to refurbish and renovate.

Monsour is a former resident of North Huntingdon.

Commissioners unanimously voted to give Monsour until their July work meeting to make a decision and apply for a work permit. Township solicitor Bruce Dice said if the township does not receive any permit application by the July deadline, officials can demolish the building with no notice to Monsour.

Monsour also agreed to demolish a small outbuilding on the property and drain the pool within 30 days of the hearing.

Like a number of hotels in the immediate vicinity, the Carlton sprang up with the completion of the turnpike in the early 1940s.

In the 1950s, however, the turnpike was extended to Monroeville, and the Carlton and other hotels lost a large portion of their business. The Carlton passed through a series of owners and gradually fell into disrepair.

The township had the motel closed in 2004, when Monsour failed to fix a number of code violations. In 2005, commissioners considered demolishing the building, but ultimately chose not to due to budgetary constraints.

This time around, board President David Herold said there is enough money in the budget to demolish the building. Planning director Andrew Blenko estimates the demolition would cost around $80,000.

If officials are forced to follow through on their plan, the township would initially pay the cost of demolition. Township officials then would place a lien on the property, which will allow them to recover the cost of the demolition when the property is sold.