KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Knoxville is moving to save the old South High School. On Friday, the City announced it is filing a "Demolition by Neglect" order against the building's owner.

The order will allow the City to repair the historic building and bill the owner for the work. If its owner, Bahman Kasraei, refuses to pay, officials can place a lien on the property.

“The first thing we will do is to assess the immediate threats to the stability of the building and loss of historic character,” said David Brace, Director of the City’s Public Service Department. “Then, if the owner still has not acted, we will seek bids from contractors to do the work necessary to prevent the loss of this historic building.”

According to the City, the Better Building Board Kasraei “failed to commence, complete, or diligently pursue the necessary corrective action to repair and stabilize the structure” and had been cited in the Spring.

Kasraei purchased the former high school, 953 E. Moody Ave., from the County in 2008. The City Council placed the 75 year-old structure under an H-1 protective historic zoning overlay three years later.