Columbus lawsuit could potentially shutter new Greyhound, Barons bus terminal on West Side

After earlier this month warning the operators of a new bus terminal location on Columbus' West Side to address crime and code violations, City Attorney Zach Klein filed a lawsuit Monday asking a judge to order the site "to cease all operations" until all problems are addressed, including "criminal activity."

It was unclear if the city's request, if granted, would temporarily or permanently end intercity commercial bus service to Columbus by the two companies, Greyhound and Barons Bus Lines. A document attached to the filing shows the city never granted an "occupancy permit," which grants what the former gas station was to be used for and attests that it meets code.

A letter Mayor Andrew J. Ginther sent last month to Barons President Tom Goebel, also attached to documents the city released Tuesday, suggests the city's endgame is to close the new terminal, which opened only in late June, regardless of what changes the company makes.

"It is my sincere hope you will come to the realization that it is not in your best interest to continue to operate at the N. Wilson Road location," Ginther wrote to Goebel on July 28. "If not, we intend to use every available tool to force you to cease operations and relocate operations to a suitable site."

Ginther added in the letter that he directed the city Zoning Department and Public Safety officials "to aggressively enforce any additional health, safety and code violations."

"The City itself explicitly approved this location for an intercity bus terminal and it is a fully permitted use under current zoning," said Joseph Miller, an attorney for Barons. "Yet, the City has repeatedly targeted Barons Bus and its passengers with unfounded accusations of city code violations and criminal activity.

"The City should instead be partnering with Barons Bus to provide accessible transportation to all city of Columbus residents," calling it "critically important."

The city's aggressive enforcement approach was apparent in zoning code violation notices attached to its lawsuit, carrying warnings that the bus transfer station operation could be punished by up to 180 days in jail as well as multiple $1,000 fines, including for: the fascia/trim on the structure being "damaged, bent or detached" and that signage — including one reading "Bus Terminal" — lacked necessary permits.

Ginther's letter also demands that two special-duty police officers, in addition to two security guards already provided by the companies, be on-site 24 hours per day, paid for at the companies' expense. He has told operators to find a new location that would be compatible with the region's LinkUS plan, whose aim is to transform major roadways into regional transportation corridors with easier, more accessible stops, wider bike and pedestrian lanes and safer streets, among other upgrades.

The current bus station has been operating "in a manner that causes chronic violations (of city code) related to criminal activity, to occur at and around the premises," according to the complaint, which will be heard by Franklin County Environmental Court Judge Stephanie Mingo.

Operating as a single corporate entity, Wilson 845 LLC, the bus companies began improvements to operate at the former gas station in April. The city previously said the company filed appropriate plans and that it had authority to move there from a COTA facility it had formerly leased for about a year Downtown.

In late July, Baron's said it made upgrades to the gas station, including adding a restroom trailer with running water to address city complaints about lack of restroom facilities, adding a second fulltime security guard, adding a water cooler with cups in the terminal, and hiring a contractor to clean inside and outside the terminal daily.

But city officials, including Ginther, later maintained that permits the city signed off on were filed under false pretenses "by misrepresenting the scope and the scale of the operations."

Columbus mayoral candidate Joe Motil on Tuesday criticized the city's efforts in regard to the relocation of the original Downtown bus terminal, which was designed and located to function as a major-city depot, including being accessible to almost all Central Ohio Transit Authority bus lines. After Greyhound decided to leave the 2.45-acre site at 111 E. Town St., it was purchased by COTA for $9.5 million, which intends to redevelop it into a "mixed-use" project in which transit is a secondary use, COTA said.

Motil said the notion that city officials were caught by surprise by the relocated bus station's opening in late June is contradicted by a site plan the property owner submitted to the city in early June, which was stamped for approval June 8. The submission clearly states "change of use of an existing fuel station for a bus change depot," he said, and notes it will operate 24 hours with an office. The plan also showed diagrams of how large 10-wheel buses would pull into and out of the station.

Ginther campaign spokesperson Cameron Keir responded: "Under Mayor Ginther's leadership, Columbus has taken concrete action to solve an issue with a business that misrepresented its intent in one of our neighborhoods. That action continues with this litigation.

"Columbus' neighborhoods are Mayor Ginther's top priority and responding to the concerns of residents will always be top of mind. Mayor Ginther remains deeply invested in regional transit, pioneering the LINK-US initiative to improve communities across Columbus. In contrast, Mr. Motil is once again doing nothing more than politicizing neighbors' concerns for his own gain.  He offers no real solutions to a region-wide issue and proves he has no idea how the city functions."

The city's lawsuit now demands that the building be demolished, the city recover unspecified costs of abatement activity and that liens and foreclosure action be taken on the property. A receiver would be appointed to make sure this happens and to eventually sell the property clear of any tax or other liens, according to the complaint.

The terminal officially opened June 28, and over the next six weeks there were 62 calls for service and 14 criminal offense reports taken by police, the city's complaint states. In the six weeks prior to operating, there were about 30 calls for police service and one offense report.

In addition to crime, the city says that the station is too small for frequent drop-offs by large buses and for large groups of people to access them; lacks enough security to quell fights and disturbances and has inadequate food and restroom facilities. The lawsuit alleges "large number of pedestrians loitering, lingering and trespassing at neighboring homes and businesses."

Klein said in a written statement: “Public safety is our priority and the amount of crime at the terminal and the conditions which patrons are subjected to are unacceptable.

"The City Attorney’s Office will use every legal tool we have to ensure that any bus line operator in Columbus is safe, accessible and compliant — just like we did when we took Greyhound to court in 2021."

In 2021, Klein filed suit against the Greyhound Lines to potentially shutter the former Downtown Greyhound Station, which had boarding gates and a large service lot for buses to enter and exit. Like the latest suit, it was filed in Franklin County Environmental Court, which hears cases related to various "quality of life" issues, including zoning code violations.

Klein's office said then that he hoped to avoid shutting down the bus lines serving Ohio's largest city.

“People use it, people depend on it," said Assistant City Attorney Heidy Carr. "Our goal is never to just shut down properties — we want to make it safer first, and that’s what we’re requesting of Greyhound.”

wbush@gannett.com

@ReporterBush

dnarciso@dispatch.com

@DeanNarciso

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus lawsuit could shutter Greyhound, Barons terminal on West Side