Frazer issues dozens more citations against Pittsburgh Mills owners for mall's condition

It seems the only thing growing faster than the potholes at Pittsburgh Mills mall is the list of citations issued against the shopping center’s owners.

Numerous potholes, knee-high grass and inoperable doors are among issues behind a new wave of citations issued by Frazer’s building inspector, Bill Payne.

At the former site of the mall’s American Eagle, across from a vacant food court, Payne recently posted 73 pages of orange violations he said he found in and around the nearly 1-million-square-foot building.

Additional citations for parking lot, sidewalk and road conditions are posted near the mall’s entrance outside.

Though the company operates through several limited liability corporations, New York-based Namdar Realty Group is the ultimate owner of the Mills.

Payne said the newest citations were issued after he discovered several doors that were rusted shut or rotting, grass that had not been cut since last year and crumbling sidewalks and pillars, among other violations.

Payne also cited Namdar for the extensive network of potholes throughout the mall’s parking lots and roads.

The mall’s potholes have long been a point of ire for Frazer and area motorists, and township officials sued Namdar for $4.5 million last year, claiming the roads were the result of negligence.

The owners also were charged with creating a public nuisance by the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office last month.

Still, Payne said he believes the building and roads around the mall are “definitely salvageable,” but they require improvements and maintenance.

“Our fear is, if it’s left unattended, it could become like Century III,” he said. “It’s just lack of maintenance for the last 20 years.”

Century III Mall in West Mifflin is undergoing extensive demolition after it was condemned in 2023 because of numerous code violations and years of decline.

The citations at Pittsburgh Mills are summary charges that likely would result in fines if Namdar pleads or is found guilty by District Judge Michael Girardi.

Payne said he will continue to issue citations if the company does not improve the property.

“The township hopes the roads get fixed first soon and the building gets taken care of,” he said.

No court date has been set for the charges, according to Frazer Supervisor Lori Ziencik.

Namdar did not return TribLive requests for comment.