Controversial Troy Tavern Building Examined by Court-Appointed Engineer
A court-appointed structural engineer is set to inspect the controversial Tavern building located at 112-118 W. Main St. in Troy’s historic district. The inspection follows ongoing litigation surrounding the fate of the structure and conflicting reports on its condition submitted by various structural engineers.
Miami County Judge Stacy Wall decided to appoint an independent expert to assess the building due to these conflicting reports. Daniel Geers of Jezerinac Geers & Associates of Dublin has been assigned to conduct the analysis, with the parties involved in the litigation responsible for covering the expert’s fee of $400 per hour. Geers will allow a representative from each party to accompany him during the inspection.
The building, which contains sections dating back to the 1840s and once housed a county courthouse, sustained damage from a tornado in January 2020. As a result, the sidewalk and parking spaces in front of the building have been closed for over three years.
In June, the city of Troy fully closed West Main Street in front of the building after the county chief building official and city fire chief deemed it a threat. Judge Wall opted against ordering immediate removal, leading to the month-long closure of the downtown block.
Litigation concerning the building’s condition, owned by 116 West Main and Randy Kimmel, has been filed in the county Common Pleas Court and Ohio’s 2nd District Court of Appeals. The legal proceedings have encompassed rulings on a city demolition order, adjudication orders revised by the county chief building official, a failed attempt to demolish the structure in March, and challenges to Judge Wall’s order for the appointment of a structural expert and for the owner to stabilize the north parapet wall facing Main Street.
More recently, Troy Community Works, a nonprofit economic development group, proposed a coordinated effort to save the building. Their plan involved donations from multiple parties, including the building owner, the city of Troy, the Troy Historic Preservation Alliance, and adjacent building owners Evil Empire and Cheryl Cheadle. Each party was suggested to contribute $25,000 or $50,000 towards the stabilization and preservation of the building.
However, the city of Troy has expressed disinterest in the proposal due to the chief building official’s certification that the building cannot be repaired. Additionally, the lack of a solid and fully financed redevelopment plan has raised concerns amongst city council members regarding the allocation of taxpayer funds.
The Troy Historic Preservation Alliance supports the proposal put forth by Troy Community Works, viewing it as a pragmatic solution to end the prolonged ordeal and reopen West Main Street. Christy Shell of Troy Community Works is currently conducting due diligence before deciding the next steps for the proposal.
Troy Community Works has previously been involved in preserving historic buildings nearby, including the former David’s Shoes Building and a former Salvation Army building along East Main Street.
As the court-appointed structural engineer prepares to inspect the Tavern building, all parties await the outcome of the analysis in this ongoing legal battle over the building’s future.
