YOUNGSTOWN — The owners of the former Anthony’s on the River are suing the city for demolishing the building without letting them know.

Two Bridges LLC, owned by Ronald Eiselstein and Chris Prater, contend in an administrative appeal filed in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court that the city “exceeded the scope of (its) authority” and asked the court to “declare the emergency demolition unconstitutional, illegal and unsupported by the preponderance of substantial, reliable and probative evidence, and request the cost be accessed against the (city).”

The city administration demolished the 110-year-old building Aug. 22, the same day an article about plans to take it down appeared in the The Vindicator, and less than 24 hours after council members received agendas for an upcoming meeting that included legislation seeking $48,000 to demolish it.

In the lawsuit, filed by attorney Charles E. Dunlap, Eiselstein and Prater contend “their substantive and procedural due process of law were violated by not being afforded notice and hearing” and that there was no legitimate reason for the demolition.

They also said they weren’t notified before or after the demolition.

In a separate filing, Dunlap is seeking documentation from the city regarding the order to demolish the building.

Judge Anthony M. D’Apolito, who was assigned to hear the case, provided both sides with a filing schedule that goes until February 2021.

City administration officials said they attempted to contact Eiselstein for months and ordered his company to make improvements to the building at 15 Oak Hill Ave., but they were ignored.

Two Bridges purchased the former restaurant building for $100,000 on April 3, 2019, and despite plans to refurbish it, nothing was done. The company also owes $5,401.83 in delinquent property taxes. Eiselstein has had several other issues with the city including zoning violations, a misdemeanor conviction for taking down trees without permission and owning other dilapidated buildings.

Several city council members were upset with fire Chief Barry Finley’s decision to order an emergency demolition of the building before its members could vote on the $48,000 expense. On Aug. 26, council voted 4-3 against legislation for the emergency demolition and to pay the $48,000 bill to Steel Valley Contractors of Youngstown, which did the work.

City Law Director Jeff Limbian said the bill will be paid either through reconsideration by council or a lawsuit by the company.

Finley said the roof was sagging so badly that the exterior walls could have fallen onto the street and bricks were coming off the building.

Councilman Julius Oliver, D-1st Ward, countered that the building isn’t near anything else and didn’t pose a danger. He also was bothered that other buildings in bad condition in neighborhoods didn’t get demolished and this one did.