Canton congregation appeals to Ohio Supreme Court in fight over ownership of Timken Stables

CANTON – A religious organization is now asking the state’s highest court to intervene in its attempt to preserve its historic Timken Stables property.

Beit HaKavod messianic synagogue it’s attractive to the Ohio Supreme Court after the Fifth District Court of Appeals on the city side in their efforts to force immediate repairs or a possible sale of the site due to its deteriorated condition.

The unique circular structure at 2317 13th St. NW was built in the 1910s as part of the Timken family estate. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Rabbi Mark Lancaster, co-founder of HaKavod, and his wife purchased the building at auction in 2013, leading to a protracted legal battle with the city over the building’s status.

The city sued the congregation in 2023, asking a judge to force the Lancasters to make repairs within 30 days or sell the building.

The city maintains that the congregation repeatedly failed to make required safety repairs and rejected the group’s argument that they were not given adequate time to make necessary repairs. Those repairs have been estimated to cost at least $4 million.

Beit HaKavod has been holding worship services at a different location since 2019.

The Fifth District also rejected Beit HaKavod’s argument that the city violated its First Amendment rights when it stopped repairs in 2018 because the congregation was using unlicensed contractors and did not obtain required permits.

Lancaster and his wife, Heidi, accuse the city of trying to drive them off the property.

In their latest appeal, filed Dec. 24, the Lancasters maintain that they have been treated differently than 48 other religious groups that have been cited for building code violations.

“The city allowed those groups to remedy their problems, not the appellants,” according to the filing. “The City of Canton has treated the appellants very differently than any of those other religious groups, seriously violating the appellant’s right to the free exercise of religion. Municipalities should not be allowed to favor one religious group over another in “This court should review this violation of the appellant’s right to free exercise.”

The city has denied such claims in the past.

“Canton’s sole interest is to ensure the public health, safety and welfare,” Kevin R. L’Hommedieu, senior attorney at the Law Department, said last year. “Beit HaKavod’s claim that Canton has an ulterior motive is unfounded.”

Members of Beit HaKavod believe that Jesus is the Jewish messiah. They observe Jewish holidays, dietary laws, and other traditions. The name in Hebrew means “House of Glory.” However, they are not considered Jewish.

Contact Charita at 330-580-8313 or [email protected].

On Twitter: @cgoshayREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Beit HaKavod appeals to Ohio Supreme Court over Timken Stables land