Hope to allow city inspection of Parker Hotel
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The city of Hillsboro and Jack Hope, owner of the Parker Hotel, have reached an agreement out of court to allow engineers for the city to inspect the structural integrity of the buildings.
The city had filed in Highland County Common Pleas Court on Sept. 21, a request that the court compel property owner Jack Hope be ordered to allow "the city of Hillsboro and the inspectors hired by said city to enter the premises located at 125 through 137 W. Main Street, Hillsboro, Ohio, commonly referred to as the Parker House, the Parker Hotel and the Carousel Lounge, for the purpose of conducting an inspection of said premises. Said inspection is necessary due to the lack of maintenance and questions as the structural integrity of the buildings and the city believes that said building may be become dilapidated and be a hazard to the public. The city has given notice of its intent to inspect to the owner of the premises, Jack Hope, who has announced his intention of suing the city again. The city states that an inspection is necessary to assess the condition of the buildings in order to make a determination as to the integrity of said buildings."
On Wednesday, Hope told the Highland County Press that, "There is no suit now." However, the matter is far from being entirely resolved.
The city and Hope have agreed on which properties will be inspected. The Sept. 21 filing had included the buildings that house Magee's and AAA Travel Agency, but now the inspection will include the Parker House and the Parker Hotel.
Hope said that he wanted the hearing cancelled because he agreed to allow the inspection without the ruling of a court.
"I filed a motion to cancel the hearing because I already agreed they could make an inspection," Hope said. Initially Hope said that when he allowed the inspection of the properties he wanted his own engineers, himself and members of the media to be present.
"(The city doesn't) want anybody messing with their engineer," Hope said. "I'll definitely have my engineer there, and me because I am a professional engineer, and I want to make sure they are looking only at the structural integrity, and not the repairs that need to be made."
Hope said that he is considering having a day where he opens up the structures to anyone who has concerns about the buildings so they can see for themselves that they are sound.
"Nothing is really solved," Hope said. "The only thing we're saying is that there is an agreement on which buildings to inspect."
A date for the building has not yet been scheduled.
In August 2008, an inspection was conducted by Shell and Meyer Associates Inc. of Cincinnati at the request of the city. The firm later issued a report suggesting repairs be made to made the building structurally sound, including to the roof structure, floor/ceiling joist, floor/ceiling sheathing, brick masonry, mortar joints, foundation stone, and foundation mortar. The report also stated that strong winds could dislodge bricks from the structure, which prompted the city to erect the fence that currently surrounds the building.
Hope said that he had "two far more experienced engineers" make the same inspection, and they found the building to be structurally sound. Hope said that he has sent the city documentation of maintenance and improvements he has made to the structure.
Earlier this year, Judge Rocky Coss ruled in favor of Hope after the city sought to have the structure demolished as a public safety hazard. Coss found the city's ordinance regarding dangerous structure to be unconstitutional. The city has since taken steps to correct the ordinance.
The city of Hillsboro and Jack Hope, owner of the Parker Hotel, have reached an agreement out of court to allow engineers for the city to inspect the structural integrity of the buildings.
The city had filed in Highland County Common Pleas Court on Sept. 21, a request that the court compel property owner Jack Hope be ordered to allow "the city of Hillsboro and the inspectors hired by said city to enter the premises located at 125 through 137 W. Main Street, Hillsboro, Ohio, commonly referred to as the Parker House, the Parker Hotel and the Carousel Lounge, for the purpose of conducting an inspection of said premises. Said inspection is necessary due to the lack of maintenance and questions as the structural integrity of the buildings and the city believes that said building may be become dilapidated and be a hazard to the public. The city has given notice of its intent to inspect to the owner of the premises, Jack Hope, who has announced his intention of suing the city again. The city states that an inspection is necessary to assess the condition of the buildings in order to make a determination as to the integrity of said buildings."
On Wednesday, Hope told the Highland County Press that, "There is no suit now." However, the matter is far from being entirely resolved.
The city and Hope have agreed on which properties will be inspected. The Sept. 21 filing had included the buildings that house Magee's and AAA Travel Agency, but now the inspection will include the Parker House and the Parker Hotel.
Hope said that he wanted the hearing cancelled because he agreed to allow the inspection without the ruling of a court.
"I filed a motion to cancel the hearing because I already agreed they could make an inspection," Hope said. Initially Hope said that when he allowed the inspection of the properties he wanted his own engineers, himself and members of the media to be present.
"(The city doesn't) want anybody messing with their engineer," Hope said. "I'll definitely have my engineer there, and me because I am a professional engineer, and I want to make sure they are looking only at the structural integrity, and not the repairs that need to be made."
Hope said that he is considering having a day where he opens up the structures to anyone who has concerns about the buildings so they can see for themselves that they are sound.
"Nothing is really solved," Hope said. "The only thing we're saying is that there is an agreement on which buildings to inspect."
A date for the building has not yet been scheduled.
In August 2008, an inspection was conducted by Shell and Meyer Associates Inc. of Cincinnati at the request of the city. The firm later issued a report suggesting repairs be made to made the building structurally sound, including to the roof structure, floor/ceiling joist, floor/ceiling sheathing, brick masonry, mortar joints, foundation stone, and foundation mortar. The report also stated that strong winds could dislodge bricks from the structure, which prompted the city to erect the fence that currently surrounds the building.
Hope said that he had "two far more experienced engineers" make the same inspection, and they found the building to be structurally sound. Hope said that he has sent the city documentation of maintenance and improvements he has made to the structure.
Earlier this year, Judge Rocky Coss ruled in favor of Hope after the city sought to have the structure demolished as a public safety hazard. Coss found the city's ordinance regarding dangerous structure to be unconstitutional. The city has since taken steps to correct the ordinance.
[[In-content Ad]]