BRYAN, Ohio — The federal court case between Dad's Place, a Bryan church that operated as a 24/7 shelter for the homeless, and the city has been dismissed after the two sides reached an agreement last month.

The city first ordered Dad's Place, which began helping homeless people in March 2023, to stop housing people 24/7 in late 2023. The city said the church violated zoning codes and that it lacked necessary features like an automatic sprinkler system, putting the people it sheltered in danger.

Pastor Christopher Avell was later charged in April 2024 with a criminal code violation and found guilty in January in Bryan Municipal Court.

According to the agreement filed on Aug. 27, the church will apply for zoning variances and permits to operate as both a house of worship and a temporary

See Full Page