Cafaro Co. seeks halt in Oakhill project

YOUNGSTOWN — Plans for the renovation of Oakhill Renaissance Place to house the Mahoning County Department of Job and Family Services will proceed despite a new attempt by the department’s landlord to derail the project in court, said Atty. David Comstock Sr., chairman of the Mahoning County Building Commission.

“As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t affect it at all,” Comstock said after a visiting judge denied an initial request to block the project and set a mid-February hearing on the matter.

However, Comstock added: “If, for instance, the court were to decide that the auditor can’t issue any checks, obviously we can’t proceed. But the building commission is not a party to any lawsuit. And until such time as we’re told we can’t proceed with our deliberations and our function as a building commission, we’re moving ahead.”

The Ohio Valley Mall Co., a division of the Cafaro Co., filed a motion Tuesday for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to stop the county from spending any public money or entering into any contracts for the renovation while the case is pending.

“The taxpayers of Mahoning County will suffer irreparable harm if the court allows the county to spend money on renovating the property while this case is pending,” according to a memorandum supporting the motion filed by Cafaro’s Cleveland lawyers.

Visiting Judge Richard M. Markus of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court denied the request for a TRO and set a hearing for 10 a.m. Feb. 13 on the request for the preliminary injunction.