Filing deadline moved up in Parker Hotel case

Filing deadlines have been moved up in the ongoing court proceedings between the city of Hillsboro and Jack Hope, owner of the Parker Hotel. 

Neither Hope, nor his attorney attended a pretrial hearing scheduled for March 31 in Highland County Common Pleas Court before Judge Rocky Coss. 

Deputy law director for the city of Hillsboro Kathryn Hapner said the pretrial was conducted via telephone. 

Hope is represented by attorney Joseph Trauth. 

"The date was moved up three weeks for (Hope) to file a motion for summary judgment," Hapner said. "We then have three weeks to respond and they will have one week to reply."

A summary judgment is a determination made by a court without a full trial.

Hapner said a pretrial hearing is scheduled for May 20 and a trial is scheduled for June 7-8.

Hope told the Highland County Press that he did not want to comment on the court proceedings March 31, as he was not present, however he did say "my ultimate goal is for Hillsboro to wake up and restore downtown. Right now, I am running out of time and money to do it myself."

Prior to court March 31, Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt said the city has been attempting to have Hope make repairs to the Parker Hotel since 1995, when the city began litigation against Hope in a separate case regarding the historic building. 

"This didn't start in 2004/2005," Holt said.

Referencing an August 2008 report from Shell and Meyer Associates Inc. of Cincinnati, Holt said ultimately the city wants Hope to make repairs to make the building safe. "But looking at the report on the structural integrity, I don't know if that's feasible. We want to get that fence down and (installed at) the police station where it belongs."

Shell and Meyer issued a report after a June 2008 inspection of the Parker Hotel that was requested by the city. Hope has disputed the report, saying that he has had his own inspections.

Repairs suggested by Shell and Meyer to make the Parker Hotel structurally sound include roof structure, floor/ceiling joist, floor/ceiling sheathing, brick masonry, mortar joints, foundation stone, and foundation mortar. It also stated that strong winds could dislodge bricks from the structure, which prompted the city to erect the fence that currently surrounds the building. 

The report states: "The conditions, as observed, indicate that the structure known as the 'Parker House,' located at 137 W. Main St., Hillsboro, Ohio, in its present condition does not meet the minimum structural requirements of the Ohio Building Code, Section 3407 or Section 1600. As indicated in the observations portion of this report, water intrusion has resulted in: failed floor-ceiling joist plaster delimitation, mortar and brick deterioration; either spalling or missing. Rafter failures were also observed. The building known at 'Parker House' has been structurally affected by failing to keep the building envelope weather tight.

"The present condition of the building requires that a plan of action be implemented," the report said. "Structurally, the Parker House structure must be repaired immediately. In the interim, the buildings should be isolated from the surrounding structures. Those structures may be at risk from falling debris. The public areas should be cordoned off permanently until repairs are completed or a controlled demolition has been accomplished. This report is based entirely on visible conditions," the report stated. "The recommendations for repair are to be performed under the guidance of a professional engineer and architect familiar with projects of similar scope. This will require documentation of each level of structural framing prior to beginning any repair work. A plan of repair must include shoring and bracing of the interior and exterior walls, floor and roof elements. Caution must be used during this operation."