NEWTON FALLS, Ohio - For the last month, structural concerns with the former USO building have been one of the focal points for the Newton Falls community.

A judge has decided the city has to stay out of the building until an agreement can be reached.

The building, now known as the Newton Falls Community Center, was last leased by Heritage Accord before city council terminated its lease with the non-profit. Heritage Accord had the building declared a historical site and wanted to renovate the building, but the pandemic hurt their progress.

Heritage Accord's attorney David Engler told 21 News if there is a way to get significant money into the Community Center, it really doesn't matter who does it, just that the project gets done. Engler said the next step is for both parties to sit down and work on a solution to the issue.

Whoever does end up working on the building will need $1.7 million to make it usable again.

There are a number of issues with the Newton Falls Community Center. Two years ago, temporary floor jacks were installed to support the lobby floor which had sunk about eight inches. The floor is still sinking, however, and a building inspector found that the jacks are pushing through the floor joists.

Since then, the county building department and fire chief deemed the building unsafe for human habitation.