LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — An Allen County Common Pleas Court judge has issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting anyone from occupying a building at 218 W. Vine St. after city officials say it became the site of illegal parties, crime and building code violations.
Lima Police Chief Curtis Hile said officers first began responding to the former Save-A-Lot building in June after neighbors reported large parties, loud music, fights and other disturbances, most often between 1 and 4 a.m. Since then, police have arrested 17 people and recovered seven illegal firearms at the property.
Hile said social media posts have been used to promote the parties, many of the people attending have been underage, and several agencies have been working together to stop the activity.
"Everyone is working together to try to come to a resolution to make sure that we're keeping public safety at the top of our concerns. The building safety is one thing, but the neighborhood safety and the quality of life in that neighborhood is a whole other thing that comes along with these kinds of issues," Hile said.
The city of Lima says a notice was posted on the property July 16 stating the building was in violation of city code because it is not approved to host events.
The city of Lima says a notice was posted on the property July 16 stating the building was in violation of city code because it is not approved to host events.
"It's been a vacant building but previously, it had been used as a grocery store, which would have been a mercantile use under the Ohio Building Code. The current owner is utilizing the structure as 'assembly occupancy,' which is outside the limits of the certificate of occupancy that the building currently has or had previous to their ownership," said Doug Ditto, chief building official for the Lima Building Department.
The property owner is scheduled to appear in Allen County Common Pleas Court later this month.
