The owners of the Pittsburgh Mills Mall have been hit with hefty fines totaling nearly $2 million due to a series of maintenance violations, as the mall has come under fire in recent months for its neglected state, with issues ranging from potholes riddling the parking lots to overgrown landscaping that had gone unaddressed. Amid this, a local district judge has ruled that Namdar Realty Group, the owner of the complex, must pay up. According to a report by WTAE, the fines were levied during a hearing on July 17, where it was disclosed that an attorney for Namdar pleaded guilty to 36 citations.
These citations, which account for a fraction of a more comprehensive 400 violations lodged against the mall, are part of ongoing efforts by Frazer Township to enforce compliance on property maintenance. "The judge heard the evidence and he was very receptive of the concerns of the township, the concerns of the residents that shop there and of the shoppers from neighboring communities," Payne said, as detailed by TribLive. He lauded the judge for his thorough review and satisfactory ruling. Reflective of the gravity of the situation, the Allegheny County District Attorney's office had commenced a criminal investigation into Namdar in March, further charging Pitt Galleria LLC—a Namdar operation—with creating a public nuisance due to dilapidated roads potentially hampering emergency service efforts.
As for the resulting financial punishment, Frazer Township Manager Lori Ziencik expressed contentment about the outcome in a statement to TribLive, saying, "We are very pleased with the magistrate’s decision." Despite the fines already ordered, the legal woes for Namdar are far from over as another hearing is scheduled for August 21, wherein District Judge Michael Girardi will consider the remaining 364 citations, these entailing not just surface-level maintenance issues but also sidewalk and road conditions, structural concerns, and the potential for rodent infestations as part of the mix, as reported by TribLive.
