Uniontown Mall owners ordered to make repairs
The owner of the Uniontown Mall is making safety upgrades after a recent court ruling.
The May 22 decision by Judge Linda Cordaro requires Namdar Realty to address numerous safety issues raised in a suit filed by South Union Township last November.
The township alleged “dangerous and unlawful” conditions in the suit, from crumbling driveways and potholes outside, to a mall interior infested by mice and other vermin and with a number emergency exits that were blocked, locked or obstructed.
“Our goal is not to close the mall down,” said Jim Davis, South Union Township’s attorney. “Our goal is not to interrupt the relationship between the mall and its tenants. That’s not our goal. The township’s goal is simple: Comply with the law. We want that mall to be functioning and safe, safe for the tenants, safe for the visitors, and anyone else.”
Namdar must get a permit and repair the emergency exits, and get the work inspected by the township’s building code office, the ruling said.
“That’s a significant issue, because if the emergency exits don’t work, and you have a crisis in there, people may not be able to get out,” Davis said.
As for the vermin allegation, the ruling states that Namdar must eliminate the problem through a licensed exterminator, who must also provide a written report to the township’s code officer — including, if necessary, a plan for ongoing treatment.
Namdar must also arrange for repairs to the mall parking lot and roadways, as well as the potholes on “Restaurant Row” leading up to the mall.
Electrical receptacles, outlets and junction boxes must also be repaired, and visible extension cords need to be removed.
Other fixes are required for the mall’s stormwater system, HVAC system, roof leaks and flooring.
“I don’t think the township’s there to police them, as far as aesthetics are concerned, but it’s got to be safe,” Davis said.
And the owners must also make whatever upgrades are required to be in compliance with the International Maintenance Property Code, which the township has adopted.
Davis said Namdar had begun taking some steps to address the issues.
Toné Dennis, who runs the Divine Restoration shop at the mall, said Wednesday that she’d seen workers outside repairing the parking lot and roof. She hadn’t noticed any problems in her store, but was glad to know they’d be fixing the handicapped-accessible door.
“I have a bad shoulder, so I pull my stuff in,” she said. “I can’t open the door — and I’m not handicapped. Can you imagine the person who’s handicapped, that’s trying to open these doors?”
Whatever happens, she said, “I’ll leave it in God’s hands.”
A court hearing is scheduled for July 1 to determine if Namdar has complied with the order. Tenants at the mall have a right to attend the hearing, and will be able to testify, the order said.
If Namdar has not made sufficient progress in the repairs, Cordaro may grant the township’s request for an injunction against the owners, she wrote in the order.
Davis said Namdar could get an extension if the company shows it’s made a good faith effort and can provide good reasons why the repairs haven’t been finished.
“I don’t want to take the cart before the horse and make assumptions,” Davis said. “Let’s see what happens. We want them to comply. We’re hopeful that they’ll do the right thing.”
James Berent, who is representing Namdar in the suit, referred comment to the company. A spokesman for the company had not responded to a request for comment by press time.
Namdar purchased the mall itself in 2015 for $23 million from the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT), and separately purchased the property upon which the mall sits.
At the time of its sale about 93% of the mall’s space was leased, and its anchors included Burlington Coat Factory, Bon-Ton, JCPenney, Sears and Teletech Customer Care.
JCPenney is the only anchor tenant remaining. A few business tenants remain in the mall, along with other agencies.