Former Timken Stables-turned-worship space remains locked in court battle

CANTON − The long saga of the Timken Stables continues as the building's owners have taken their case to a higher authority.

Leaders of the Beit HaKavod Messianic Synagogue, which has owned the building since 2013, have appealed Stark County Common Pleas Court Judge Kristin Farmer's April deadline to repair or demolish the iconic structure at 2317 13th St. NW. Farmer ruled that if the ministry failed to meet the 30-day deadline, the property would be sold.

The judge also dismissed Beit HaKavod's counterclaim and set a May 3 hearing to determine how much money the ministry must pay in civil penalties for not fixing the violations sooner.

Canton City Law Director Jason Reese said the appeal pauses the city's ability to move forward, but the May 3 hearing is expected to be held.

For decades, the Timken Stables has been an object of fascination to the public and frustration for city officials.

With its 14-inch-thick walls and turrets, the circular Gilded Age building housed horses belonging to Henry Timken, founder of the Timken Co. The Stables has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978.

Beit HaKavod, a messianic Christian group, bought the building at an auction in 2013 to be the congregation's home. The building previously housed the Stables Restaurant and Hall of Fame Grille.

The Canton Law Department and the State Fire Marshal's Office ordered the building to be vacated in 2019, citing the congregation's inability to make licensed repairs after numerous chances to do so. Beit HaKavod has been renting another space for worship services since then.

Why is Beit HaKavod appealing the judge's decision?

Beit HaKavod's appeal, which was filed in the 5th District Court of Appeals on March 26, does not articulate the legal grounds for why it believes the judge's decision should be overturned.

In an email to The Canton Repository, Rabbi Heidi Lancaster, cofounder of Beit HaKavod, accused Canton City officials of continued obstruction and dishonesty.

"In my opinion, the city of Canton has plans for our historical landmark property, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places," Lancaster said. "They view us, our ministry, as blockading them and standing in the way of their progress, especially when the Hall of Fame Village is in our 'backyard.'"

Lancaster claims the city made three settlement offers: "Each one a little sweeter to get us to agree to settle out of court and drop our countersuit. "

Under the city's latest offer, the city said it would erase all the fines related to the building's violations and let the congregation keep the money from the sale of the building and property if the congregation dropped its countersuit and agreed to the sale of the building and property, Lancaster said.

"This clearly proves that the city of Canton could have, at any time, decided to help us, a nonprofit ministry/community service organization," she wrote in her email. "But instead they have blockaded our plans for moving forward with the repair of our roof for their own interests."

She said the ministry declined all offers to settle out of court. It had wanted a jury trial, but the city filed a motion for summary judgment, which gave the judge the ability to decide the case without a jury.

She hopes Farmer will lower the amount of the surety bond during the May 3 hearing.

She said they have remedied all fire code violations, except the roof and electrical issues, and that their structural engineer and architect are currently working on a structural design for the roof.

"We have a roofing company who specializes in historic structures and turrets working with our architect," she said.

She said the congregation has been attempting to raise the estimated $4 million it will cost to bring the building up to code. It recently applied to become a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

"We had not chosen to involve our ministry with the government in that way since we were tax-exempt already, but we have come to realize that the doors to donations and grants from foundations can only come that way," she said. "... We are looking for justice to be served. I am hopeful that by the time this ordeal is over...every voter in Stark County realizes what is really going on. Honestly, if it can happen to us, it can happen to any of us."

Repository staff writer Kelli Weir contributed to this report.

Reach Charita Goshay at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com.

On Twitter: @cgoshayREP.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Timken Stables owner Beit HaKavod appeals ruling to repair or sell