Home » Her motel became home to hundreds of immigrants. Now, a developer’s suing her

Her motel became home to hundreds of immigrants. Now, a developer’s suing her

The Western Motor Inn captured national attention in 2023. Now, a buyer argues the owner’s charity caused $2 million of damages.

In the fall of 2023, Yong Cha Prince’s old motel off Vasquez Boulevard became an accidental sanctuary for hundreds of newly arrived immigrants looking for better lives in the U.S. She was hailed for her kindness at the time, but her decision to open her doors may be coming back to bite her.

Last week, Prince testified in a civil trial over the sale of her crumbling Western Motor Inn. The lawsuit was brought by Sage Investments, a company that turns old motels into housing. The company has been under contract to buy the property since summer 2023, before the immigrants arrived.