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Springfield, Ohio — A closed downtown nursing home has sued the city in connection with the sale of the property for the hospital project.

The lawsuit demands the city either make an offer to purchase the former MSI Pillars, 324-338 W. Columbia St., and all related property, or file for eminent domain.

A similar lawsuit was filed in federal court but a magistrate there recommended it be filed in state court, city Law Director Jerry Strozdas said.

Lawyer Norman Frankowski filed the suit in the Clark County Common Pleas Court on June 27.

He did not return telephone calls from the News-Sun.

The city has been buying properties downtown near Buck Creek to make way for a new combined hospital.

MSI Pillars bought the nursing home in 2002 and closed it in 2003 to raze and rebuild it.

In 2005 the city issued a building moratorium on the area that includes MSI Pillars, which requested an exception.

The city manager and commissioners denied the request.

That denial constitutes a taking of the buildings and related property, and the city's offer is deficient, the lawsuit alleges.

The city intends to buy the nursing home, Strozdas said, and offered $755,000.

It wants to continue negotiating with MSI Pillars.

"We've acquired 90 percent or better of the property in the area by negotiation, clearly showing that that's our preference," Strozdas said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0363 or ssommer@coxohio.com.