YOUNGSTOWN — A federal judge on Friday closed a legal battle over a downtown Warren commercial building, marking the case as settled and dismissing it without prejudice after the property owner, 155 South Park LLC, reached an agreement with Warren officials and averted a demolition.

U.S. District Judge Benita Y. Pearson canceled a scheduled preliminary injunction hearing and vacated related filing dates, ordering the parties to submit a final executed Stipulation and Order of Dismissal with Prejudice by June 30. Terms of the settlement remain confidential.

The lawsuit, filed May 20, 2025, accused the city and its officials, including Chief Building Official Christopher Taneyhill, of violating the plaintiff’s constitutional rights by halting construction, issuing a stop-work order and threatening to demolish the building at 155 South Park Ave. in Warren’s Historic Downtown District. The plaintiff alleged the city unfairly altered a court-approved repair agreement, escalating costs and jeopardizing a May 15 deadline.

According to court documents, 155 South Park LLC spent more than $227,000 repairing a collapsed brick wall as part of a Feb. 3 settlement. On March 31, Taneyhill issued a new order requiring replacement of all brick veneer walls, including one not in the original agreement, which the plaintiff said would quadruple costs and delay completion.

The city issued a stop-work order May 16 and moved to demolish the building, prompting the lawsuit.

The plaintiff argued demolition would cause “irreparable harm,” including financial losses and potential damage to the adjacent Boyle Building. A temporary restraining order issued May 20 halted demolition and it later was extended to allow settlement negotiations.

The lawsuit also claimed the city’s Residential Board of Appeals prematurely revoked a building permit in June 2024, possibly to benefit private interests, including the neighboring Robins Theatre, which uses the plaintiff’s adjacent parking lot.