YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The companies that own and operate the DoubleTree by Hilton Youngstown Downtown hotel and its parking lot and deck are the latest entities to file a lawsuit stemming from the May 2024 Realty Tower explosion.
Youngstown Stambaugh Hotel LLC, which owns and operates the hotel, and Youngstown Stambaugh Parking Holdings LLC, which owns and operates the associated parking lot, filed the suit Friday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
The suit contends the hotel and the parking lot/deck were damaged in the May 28, 2024, Realty Tower explosion and had to “cease business operations for a temporary, but uncertain amount of time” and “lost future and long-term business income, including potential future bookings for various amenities and long-term contracts” for rooms, banquet services, dining and parking.
A natural gas explosion at the downtown building killed an employee of the Chase Bank branch on the first floor and injured several others. It also left Realty residents without a place to live. Surrounding businesses were closed, and the International Towers, next to Realty, was evacuated because of concerns about Realty’s structural integrity. The Realty building was razed last summer.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.
The latest lawsuit lists as defendants YO Properties 47 LLC, which owned the Realty building; LY Property Management LLC, which managed it; Greenheart Companies LLC; the East Ohio Gas Co.; Enbridge Alternative Fuel LLC; Enbridge Pipelines (Toledo) Inc.; Enbridge EOG Holdings LLC; Enbridge Genoa U.S Holdings LLC; Enbridge (U.S. Inc); Dominion Energy LLC; Enbridge (U.S. Gas) Distribution LLC; Enbridge Elephant Holdings LLC; Dominion Energy Inc; Travelers Indemnity Co. of Connecticut; Dominion Energy Questar Corp.; and 20 John/Jane Does.
The hotel suffered uninsured property damage and business loss of more than $1 million, the suit says. The parking lot/deck suffered property damage and business loss in excess of $25,000.
The complaint lists negligence and liability for ultrahazardous activities among its claims.
The lawsuit says the city entered into a no-bid contract in April 2024 with Greenheart to remove and relocate utilities in preparation for the city’s road improvement project. Greenheart agreed to remove utility lines, including water, gas, electrical, data and phone lines, sprinkler lines and furnace water tanks.
A scrap removal crew was removing the utility lines, and a crew member cut into one of the gas lines, which was believed to be inactive, it says.
“Approximately six minutes after the line was cut, a catastrophic explosion occurred,” the lawsuit says.
Pictured at top: The DoubleTree by Hilton Youngstown Downtown sign is seen outside the Stambaugh Building as demolition work continued on the neighboring Realty Tower. (Business Journal File Photo | August 2024)