Judge imposes deadline on owner of Timken Stables to fix or demolish the historic building
CANTON – The owner of the historic Timken Stables has until April to fix the dangerous conditions at the iconic building, or it will be sold, a Stark County judge has ruled.
Stark County Common Pleas Judge Kristin Farmer on Thursday set a 30-day deadline for owner, Beit HaKavod, to repair or demolish the building at 2317 13th St. NW. Beit HaKavod purchased the property at auction in 2013 to house the Beit HaKavod Messianic Synagogue.
If the ministry fails to meet the deadline, the property will be sold.
The judge also set a hearing for May 3, when she will determine how much money the ministry will have to pay in civil penalties for not fixing the violations sooner.
Stables lawsuit started a year ago
The city of Canton and the state fire marshal sued Beit HaKavod a year ago to force the owner to fix the numerous fire and building code violations that were first identified in 2018.
They also asked the judge to enforce the penalties issued by the Ohio Board of Building Appeals in December 2019 when it upheld four code violations and fined the synagogue $20,000. The state board also imposed additional monthly fines of $1,000 for each of the four violations if the fixes weren’t made within 90 days. City attorneys said the repairs have not been made.
Canton Law Director Jason Reese said Friday that he agrees with the judge’s decision and awaits the property owner’s next steps.
Attorney Steven Mastrantonio, who is representing Beit HaKavod, did not immediately return a message seeking comment on whether the congregation plans to appeal the judge’s ruling.
Judge dismisses Beit HaKavod's claims against city
Farmer on Thursday also dismissed the synagogue’s claims that Canton violated its right to freely exercise its religion by prosecuting it more vigorously than others in similar situations.
In court filings and in a letter to The Canton Repository, Beit HaKavod’s spiritual leader Rabbi Mark Lancaster accused the city of using strong-arm tactics and heavy fines in an attempt to force his congregation out.
He said the congregation, which he co-founded in 2009, tried multiple times to make the necessary repairs but city inspectors continuously stopped them by claiming they didn’t have the proper licenses or permits. The city also rejected their plan to repair the roof in phases, Lancaster said.
Estimates provided in court filings show that the cost to repair the building likely exceeds $4 million.
Built around 1915, the circular-shaped building with its 14-inch thick walls and turrets was part of the private estate of Henry H. Timken Sr., founder of the Timken Co. The building, also known as the Henry H. Timken Estate Barn, has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978.
Reach Canton Repository staff writer Kelli Weir at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Timken Stables to be fixed or demolished by April, or will be sold
