Pittsburgh Mills quietly being shopped by owner Namdar

It appears the owner of the Pittsburgh Mills mall property in Frazer is in search of a buyer.

An email received by some local real estate agents from mall owner Namdar Realty Group’s chief operating officer, Dan Dilmanian, says Namdar is “quietly exploring an off-market sale.”

“We’re not looking to mass market the property or hire anyone exclusively, but we will pay a market fee to any broker who brings us a buyer,” the message said.

None of 12 Namdar officials contacted by TribLive returned requests for comment Tuesday. In an email to TribLive, the company’s public relations agency, Upspring PR, declined to comment.

Heidi Powell, a real estate agent from Freeport, said she received the email Monday morning.

Powell, who normally deals with residential properties, believes the email was sent to area real estate agents’ email addresses listed on Loop­net, an online marketplace for commercial property. She recalled a prior email from Namdar in November stating the company’s interest in an off-market or joint-venture deal.

“As a community interest, obviously, we would love to see that mall be an asset and a utilized hub,” Powell said. “I would love to see that happen in our community.”

According to Namdar, the mall building is 900,000 square feet and has a 35% occupancy rate. Mixed-use and warehouse uses are permitted, the company said.

There are 43 acres of excess, buildable land on the property, it claims.

An “unowned” Macy’s store — the last remaining anchor tenant there — will be available “soon,” the message said. It also claims that the MAC Discount and Goodrich Theatres storefronts “can be vacated.”

The email claims that grants and incentives could be available to interested buyers.

The mall formerly was known as the Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills.

Marvin Birner, a commercial and industrial real estate agent based in New Kensington, also confirmed he received Namdar’s email Monday.

“It would have to be a national real estate investment trust, or a large firm that would buy that,” Birner predicted. “There’s always firms out there that are looking for a value-added investment.”

Birner thinks it’s likely a buyer could redevelop the site or subdivide it. He also noted, with data centers slated in Upper Burrell and Springdale and industrial and advanced manufacturing growth in New Kensington, a prospective buyer could look at the mall site for a high-tech use.

Ultimately, though, it’s hard to say whether there’s much interest for the Frazer property, Birner said.

“The land needs to be utilized differently,” he said.

Reached Tuesday, Frazer Secretary/Treasurer and Supervisor Lori Ziencik said the township was unaware of Namdar’s email. She added she was “skeptical” of a possible sale, but she declined further comment because of litigation between the township and Namdar.

The 20-year-old mall has faced a steep downward trajectory, with stores leaving and legal woes, especially in the past two years.

New York-based Namdar acquired the property in 2018. In 2023, Frazer initiated a sheriff’s sale on the mall, seeking $11.5 million in accrued special assessment bills, but Namdar paid that money before the sale could be held.

In 2024, Frazer filed a lawsuit against Namdar, claiming the company ignored $4.5 million in repairs needed for the pothole-riddled roads throughout the complex.

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr.’s office in April charged Pitt Galleria — a limited liability company through which Namdar operates the mall — with creating a public nuisance.

News of Namdar looking to sell the mall will have no effect on those charges, according to the DA’s office.

“Our office will continue with the prosecution, regardless of any interest in the sale of the property,” said Lauren Delaney, executive assistant to Zappala, in an email to TribLive. “The alleged crimes have already been committed and the harm has occurred.”

In June, real estate trusts for Walmart and Sam’s Club sued the mall owners, accusing them of breaching their contract, which requires repairs to the roads at the mall complex. The companies earlier this year paid to repave one portion of road used by delivery trucks to reach their stores there.

That’s all on top of roughly 200 citations filed against Namdar from Frazer building inspector Bill Payne, citing alleged violations, including the potholes; knee-high grass; inoperable doors; and poor parking lot, sidewalk and road conditions.

Also in April, the mall’s Macy’s store was put on the market. And earlier this month, Dick’s Sporting Goods vacated its Mills mall location and left for The Waterworks shopping center near Aspinwall.