The city has issued at least five code compliance citations against owners of the 56-year-old Regency Square Mall in Arlington since November and more are expected.
Ownership said Oct. 2 it has a contract to sell the property, which is at 9501 Arlington Expressway.
Three of the most recent violations dated May 23 and June 21 cited the damaged ceiling and roof leaks.
They noted prior notices of violation in November and May.
The city Municipal Code Compliance Division issued the civil citations for violation of the city ordinance.
The citations were issued to Regency Mall Realty LLC, Regency CH LLC and Regency Nassim LLC, the mall’s ownership group based in Great Neck, New York.
The violations are $250 each.
The five show that three are closed cases and noncompliant and new cases are pending.
The fines total $1,020.
Phillip Perry, the city’s chief communications officer, said Oct. 4 that the city is creating documents to initiate hearings for repeat violations. He said that should result in five more cases in the coming days.
The ownership group comprises Namdar Realty Group and Mason Asset Management, both in Great Neck, New York.
The parts of the eastern retail wing still open to the public are roped off by security tape around trash containers to collect water from the holes in the ceiling, where water damage has spread.
A Namdar representative said Oct. 2 the owners have finalized a contract to sell the mall to an undisclosed buyer.
District 4 Florida Sen. Clay Yarborough wrote to Namdar Realty Group and Mason Asset Management on Sept. 8 about the condition of the mall.
In a response to Yarborough on Oct. 3, Namdar COO Dan Dilmanian wrote that the buyer will work with the city toward repairs.
“My apologies for taking so long to get back to you regarding your letter dated 9/8/23,” Dilmanian said in the email to Yarborough.
“We value your concerns and we are pleased to inform you that we’ve finalized a contract for the sale of the mall,” it said.
“The new buyer is aware of the necessary repairs and will liaise with the town soon to address the issues. Thank you for your dedication to the community,” it concluded.
Yarborough had written that “it is of utmost importance for remedial action to be taken immediately.”
Yarborough cited a property “afflicted with” problems that include structural deterioration with holes in the ceilings, some with exposed electrical wiring that could pose fire hazards.
“The damage has led to ongoing water leaks, which, coupled with the lack of air conditioning, have caused visible mildew and mold growth, posing great health and safety risks to any occupants,” he wrote, providing photos of the damage.
“This can quickly and easily lead to legal liabilities for you as the property owner and manager,” he wrote.
As of Oct. 4, five tenants remained operating inside the eastern wing – Regency Square Dental, Regency Health Food, Jimmy Jazz, Rogers Jewelers and food-court vendor Tokyo Sakura.
Two national retailers closed recently.
LensCrafters closed and vacated.
People at Bath & Body Works were packing up inventory in the store, which has been closed for weeks but remained lighted and stocked. A note on the front had said it was “temporarily closed due to the temperature in the mall.”
The city is reviewing a permit application for Sleiman Enterprises to build-out a temporary space at Southside Commons, north of the mall, for Bath & Body Works.
On Sept. 29, District 1 City Council member Ken Amaro said LensCrafters had been a mainstay for decades, “holding up that end of the Regency Square Mall.”
“Its leaving is another statement that this community is tired of the mall ownership. If the owner or owners are not going to be a productive partner in Arlington, they too should leave,” Amaro said.