WARREN — A legal battle is unfolding in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court over the future of Park Place, a historic building located in Warren’s Downtown Historic District.

The case, presided over by Judge Cynthia Westcott Rice, pits the building’s owner, attorney Irene Makridis, against the City of Warren and chief building official Christopher Taneyhill.

Attorney Dimitrios Makridis represents the plaintiff, while James E. Sanders serves as counsel for the defendants. Sanders said he is unable to discuss pending litigation.

On Thursday, Makridis, on behalf of 155 South Park LLC, filed a complaint and a motion seeking emergency injunctive relief and a temporary restraining order.

According to the motion, Makridis aims to block the city and Taneyhill from “proceeding with the planned demolition of Park Place, scheduled to occur after January 2, 2025.” She further requests an “order granting continued access to Park Place beyond this date to ensure proper heating and maintenance, which is critical to prevent catastrophic damage, such as the freezing and flooding of its pipes during the winter months.”

Makridis’ motion also seeks to prevent the defendants from “accessing or interfering with Park Place until this matter is fully litigated.”

The property in question, a 33,352-square-foot Art Deco structure built in 1927, is one of the last remaining historic buildings on South Park Avenue.

It has been the subject of ongoing disputes between Makridis and the city, including allegations by the plaintiff that the city obstructed her restoration efforts by revoking building permits and issuing a demolition order.

In response, the defendants filed a motion Monday requesting that the court deny Makridis’ motion for emergency injunctive relief and a temporary restraining order. According to their filing, “there is no justification for injunctive relief / temporary restraining order to prevent enforcement of the unsafe building, repair or demolition order that was served on the 155 South Park LLC on Dec. 4, 2021.”

The city’s motion outlines a time line of prior rulings related to the property. It states that an adjudication order issued by Taneyhill in December 2021 deemed the building unsafe and required it to be vacated. The plaintiff appealed the order to the Ohio State Board of Building Appeals Jan. 5, 2022, but the board upheld the order in April 2022. Subsequent appeals to the Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas and the 11th District Court of Appeals also resulted in rulings in favor of the city, the motion notes.

The defendants argue that Makridis had “ample opportunity over three years to repair and rehabilitate the property but has failed to do anything.” They further state, under a city ordinance, rehabilitation work must begin within 60 days of receiving a permit. The motion claims a rehabilitation permit issued in January 2022 was revoked later that year due to lack of progress.

“The city building official and the State Board of Appeals determined that it is a dangerous situation that needs to be addressed and the building demolished,” the city’s filing states.