GIRARD — Owners of a downtown building scheduled for demolition were given 90 days to make needed repairs so the structure can be compliant with city and health standards — and not face the wrecking ball.

Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge W. Wyatt McKay had ordered a temporary restraining order last week, halting demolition of the building at 25 W. Liberty St. Court magistrate Jami Bishop on Friday met with Girard Law Director Brian Kren and the attorney for building owners Dan and Robert Penza.

Afterward, the court agreed to give the owners 90 days to make repairs.

“We are optimistic that we will be able to save the property,” said Penzas’ attorney, Jeff Goodman. “With myself, my clients working with the city and health department officials, I am pleased with the outcome of today’s meeting, which is seen as a win-win for everyone.”

Goodman said he thinks repairs would cost about $50,000 to $60,000 to get the building up to city and health code standards.

The Trumbull County Board of Health had declared the property unfit for habitation and a public health nuisance.

But according to the legal document seeking the temporary restraining order, Dan and Robert Penza said the health department had sent a March 1 letter making the declarations about the property to John Penza, and not to Dan and Robert Penza.

Mayor James Melfi said he doubts repairs can save the building, which housed a former Ben Franklin store.

“Repairs would have to be made from the ground up to the roof and from one wall to the other,” Melfi said, noting that one of the walls is leaning against the building next door at 15 W. Liberty St., which also was set for demolition.

“The citizens of our city had suffered for decades from the management of this building,” Melfi said, complaining about the lack of maintenance and repairs there.

City council earlier this month awarded a contract to get the downtown buildings, which some officials viewed as an eyesore, demolished.

Moderalli Excavating of Poland was hired at $129,900 to raze the buildings at 15 and 25 W. Liberty St. But that work has been put on hold at least until January 2022.

The vacant structures sit on the southwestern corner of the intersection of East Liberty Street and U.S. Route 422 with the two storefronts vacant.